Dai Ailian
| Dai Ailian (戴爱莲) | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
May 10, 1916 Trinidad |
| Died | February 9, 2006 (aged 89) Beijing |
| Nationality | Chinese Trinidadian |
| Occupation | Dancer, dance teacher, choreographer, company director |
| Spouse(s) | Ye Qianyu |
Dai Ailian (Chinese: 戴爱莲; Wade–Giles: Tai Ai-lien; May 10, 1916 – February 9, 2006) was a Chinese dancer and an important figure in the modern history of dance in China. She was born in 1916 into an overseas Chinese family living in Trinidad. Her years as a dance teacher and educator helped China build a generation of dancers, choreographers, and educators. She is known in China as the "Mother of Chinese Modern Dance".
Dai Ailian was born in Trinidad to a 3rd generation Chinese family, whose origins were in Xinhui, Guangdong Province. Influenced by her mother, who loved music, even when she was very small she liked to dance. She began studying ballet in Trinidad from the age of 7.
In 1931 at the age of 14, Dai Ailian was one of 12 students accepted into the Masters class at the Jooss School of Ballet and so went to England to continue her studies. She went on to study modern dance at Jooss Modern Dance School where she learned the theory and techniques developed by Rudolf von Laban. She also worked in the studios of Anton Dolin and Margaret Craske. In this period, She choreographed a number of works, including a solo performance called Yang Guifei in 1936 based on her interpretation of the historical character.
In 1937, Dai took part in benefit performances organized by the China Campaign Committee in London to raise funds for the Hong Kong-based China Defense League, headed by Soong Ching-ling, wife of Sun Yat-sen. After reading Red Star Over China by Edgar Snow during the Japanese invasion of China, she travelled to Hong Kong with the help of Soong in 1940. She travelled to China to study the folk dances and operas and created pieces based on folk traditions such as The Drum of the Yao People. Dai choreographed, performed, and taught dance all over China. She was named principal of the Beijing Dancing School when it was first set up in 1954.
...
Wikipedia