Jinju Opera has its first undergraduate class in China

Jinju Opera, also known as Shanxi bangzi, is a form of Chinese opera which originated in the northern province of Shanxi during the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty (1850 – 1861). Jinju Opera is popular in north and central Shanxi province, Shaanxi province, Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Hebei province.

Jinju Opera’s first undergraduate class will graduate from the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts (NACTA) this summer, Shanxi Daily reports. On the afternoon of June 4, Shanxi’s Provincial Department of Culture held a press conference, in which Zhou Long, vice president of the NACTA, made a speech. According to Zhou, it is the first class for Jinju Opera undergraduates in the history of their academy, and they trained the students in a “2+1+1” model during the past years, which has attracted the attention of other art academies across China.

According to the Academy, a “2+1+1” model is implemented as follows: In the first two years, students should finish all the courses required by the Chinese Ministry of Education, and meanwhile learn the basic skills of Jinju Opera, such as singing, speaking, acting, acrobatic fighting, and dancing. During this period, the Academy also invited famous and professional operatic artists to give lessons to the students on the classic operas and the moves used in opera performances. All the students spent the third year in Shanxi Drama Vocational College to further their study in Jinju Opera from 26 Jinju Opera artists. In the final year, students finished their graduation theses, and rehearsed and performed classic plays of Jinju Opera.

Recently, this class of undergraduates performed a classic Jinju Opera play in Beijing. All of them appeared on the stage with exquisite makeup and presented their fine acting, which earned an appreciative reaction from the audience.