Children's art troupe celebrates 65 years
The China Welfare Institute Children’s Palace announces plans for a documentary about its Little Companion Art Troupe on Thursday.
The China Welfare Institute Children’s Palace announced plans to make a documentary in celebration of the 65th anniversary of its Little Companion Art Troupe on Thursday.
It is seeking historical material and stories about the troupe and its members between the 1950s and 1980s.
Soong Ching Ling celebrates Spring Festival with children of the Little Companion Art Troupe in 1960.
The troupe was set up on May 28, 1955, by Soong Ching Ling, honorary president of the People’s Republic of China, with teams of dance, chorus, drama, traditional Chinese music, orchestral music, keyboard music, as well as painting and calligraphy.
Famous Chinese artists, including Xiong Foxi, Ding Shande, Zhou Xiaoyan and Hu Rongrong were invited to serve as honorary consultants. They were later joined by others, including He Zhanhao, co-composer of the violin concerto “The Butterfly Lovers.”
Pat Nixon with members of the Little Companion Art Troupe in 1972 when she visited Shanghai with husband Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States.
Insisting on Soong’s idea of “giving children the most valuable things,” the troupe offers art education and performance platforms. More than 100,000 children have studied various categories of arts in the troupe over the past 65 years.
As goodwill ambassadors, members have performed to all over the world.
They have performed at important occasions such as the celebrations for the return of Hong Kong in 1997 and Macau in 1999, the APEC Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting in 2001, the closing ceremony of the World Special Olympic Games in 2007, the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai and the welcoming ceremonies of the China International Import Expo in the past two years.
Members of the Little Companion Art Troupe pose for a photograph after performing for the return of Macau in 1999.
Several former members of the troupe shared memories with their teachers and companions on Thursday.
Huang Ying, a famous soprano, recalled being a vocal group member in the 1980s.
“My singing began here, soared to the whole world, and back to China again,” she said. “I have taught many students who came from the Little Companion Art Troupe and graduated from worldwide conservatories, which is like another way of inheritance.”
Huang’s advice to children was: “Be consistent, confident, cherish your opportunities from this platform and be ambassadors of goodness.”
Members of the Little Companion Art Troupe perform in Beijing in 2008 to celebrate the Beijing Olympics.
Qiao Zhen, 78, a famous dubbing actor, performer and director, was a member of the troupe’s drama team, as were his wife and his son. His granddaughter was a member of the troupe's dance team.
“The children’s palace was a desirable place for me in my childhood,” he said. “I got so many impressive memories here and laid the foundation of performance. Teachers and instructors are serious in class, and care for their students in daily life.”
Members of the Little Companion Art Troupe perform at the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.
Zhu Jingting, who has just been admitted to The Juilliard School in the US, began learning the piano in the troupe at the age of 4.
Last year, he donated over 120,000 yuan from a piano recital to the troupe to help children from impoverished families realize their musical dreams.
People with information about members or stories related to the art troupe are invited to call 62498657 or email xiaohuoban65@yeah.net.
