Jessica Bonadurer
On Thursday January 26, the RDFZ Art Troupe of Beijing paid a visit to Whitney Young, performing their 2017 “Happy Spring Festival” at our school’s theatre. The show commenced with a stunning performance by the FDFZ Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra played “Radetzky March” by Austrian composer Johann Strauss with beautiful artistry and attention to detail. All of the musicians in the chamber orchestra were extremely talented. However, I thought that this section of the show went on for too long. After ten minutes of listening to the orchestra, I noticed students dozing off and I, myself, was becoming a little tired. Their attention was caught, though, when the Whitney Young Concert Orchestra joined the Chinese students on stage to play a piece in collaboration.

Next, the RDFZ Martial Arts Team woke everyone up performing an exciting piece by Shi Feng. They used swords to exhibit traditional martial arts movements and they also showcased their advanced tumbling skills.

“I was blown away by how high they jumped in the air!” said Madi Mariani ‘18 as she watched the RDFZ Boys Dance Team’s “Marching War Drum Dance.” The team showcased stunning dance moves and demonstrated traditional Chinese dancing and martial arts at the same time.

Another interesting performance was “Dancing Youth” by the RDFZ Aerobics Team. The audience seemed very impressed by their acrobatic skills (see picture above).

“I loved watching their stunting!” marvelled Kayla Dixon ‘17. “ It reminded me of what we do in cheerleading!”

Minus a few moments of dullness, the show was very impressive. The combination of elaborate costumes, captivating music, and admirable talent allowed for a fantastic show! Whitney Young cannot wait until next year when RDFZ Art Troupe visits again.