Papa and I went to the University of Arizona's Stevie Eller Dance Theatre last night to see a performance. There were three Chinese women playing instruments in the lobby as we arrived. One was playing an erhu, a two stringed violin invented over 1000 years ago and still a popular instrument in China. One was playing a pipa, a four stringed, plucked instrument, played for over 2000 years. The third was playing a yangqin, a Chinese hammered dulcimer, thought to have been brought to China from Persia via the Silk Road, and used in traditional Chinese orchestras. The music from these three instruments was beautiful!
The dance performances were interpretations of dances from various places around the world... an Israeli Circle Dance, Irish Set Dances, Zambra gypsy dance from Spain with our favorite flamenco guitarist (Misael Barraza-Diaz) as accompaniest, an Armenian Dance, Chinese Peking Opera style dance, tango, and a Greek mythological dance - Styx. All were interesting, well performed, and fast paced interpretations of traditional dances, but I must admit that Papa and I prefer watching traditional flamenco and tango dancing. We had a good time!
