Miscellaneous thoughts: Shanghai Parks and students

It is a rainy evening here in Shanghai. We are in our hotel room, watching world news on CGTN (the English language world news station) after a dinner of tea, cherries and mangosteens.  Its a good time to share more thoughts and photos.

Mixed neighborhoods near People's Park

Traditional Shikomen alleys

Water brush Calligraphy class

I love walking and exploring different neighborhoods in this city.  Things change quickly, a fancy, modern shopping mall is across the street from older, smaller and narrower alley-ways surrounded by two story red brick homes with laundry hanging from widows drying racks. Fequently we are detoured around areas of street repairs or deep pits that will soon be tall buildings. But despite the density of buildings, moving vehicles and people, pocket parks are everywhere. These parks are always clean, filled with growth that blocks noise and creates a peaceful haven, away from the hustle and bustle of the near-by street.

Add caption

It is clear that the parks are well used and loved. No matter the time of day or weather, there is much to see. Sometimes it is an older man doing T'ai Chi with ponderous grace. Or two women practicing the tango in a quiet corner.  In a park near the Shanghai Musuem of Modern Art,  a man teaches water calligraphy to two students, who avidly attempt to duplicate his marks with hugs brushes dipped in water. Of course there are also people sleeping, smoking as they use their cell phone (everyone I have observed so far, except for older people, spend a huge amount of time holding a cell phone in one hand while doing a vast array of activities with the other hand- e.g. riding bicycles, motorcycles, walking or almost anything else.  Grandparents sit watching their grandchildren play, while others stretch, play badminton or run back and forth inside the park boundaries. These parks seems well used and well loved, and the provide beauty as well as a place of calm peace in such a busy city.

Mandarin/English Movement Analysis

Getting ready for class 

Observing a movement phrase 

I also wanted to include some photos of my class. The space was lovely, a large space with a good floor. The students were mainly women, but one very enthusiastic man (because he was in a class I taught last year, it was amazing to see grow and take more expressive risks this time around).  The class itself was challenging- Movement Analysis (a requirement for becoming a Dance/Movement Therapist) is like learning any language, only this one is non-verbal.  In addition to learning to see and use the various components and concepts of the language, we were constantly going back and forth between Mandarin and English.  Challenging at times, but also alot of fun. As we explored different cultural movement patterns and rules, I learned so much about a culture that is so different from my own. (Although having said that, there were also many shared human experiences as well.) I am so impressed by these young movers and therapists- they have such deep curiosity and openness to learning, even as they are honest about their own experiences. While I know the class was at times overwhelming and exhausting (it is an intensive, 4-day, 8 hours a day learning experience), they also could become so wonderfully creative and joyfully expressive when moving to music. I will miss them and hope I have more opportunities in the future.