To celebrate the 2012 Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dragon, the Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine (CI for TCM) at London South Bank University organised a Chinese New Year Celebration Road Show and Heathfield School GDST, Pinner, was one of the schools the Institute visited and the only school in the Harrow borough.
The troupe performed to pupils from the Senior and Junior School. The dancers performed traditional folk dances and music; martial arts and also demonstrated the instrument Bruce Lee used – Shuang jie gun. Eight pupils were chosen how to use the instrument and prizes were awarded. Each of the performances was introduced with a short introduction on why each piece is performed and the tradition behind them. One of the instruments played, the Suona, is a very difficult instrument to learn and even the performer took 16 years to learn how to play.
Heathfield pupils have been studying Chinese Mandarin for a number of years and their first cohort of 24 GCSE pupils were awarded with 20 A* and 4 A grades in August 2011.
The performance troupe came from the Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine and comprises students and doctors who, next to their studies in Chinese medicine, cultivate their passion for Chinese traditional arts and are fully trained performers. Their mesmerizing show included traditional Chinese dancing, martial arts, folk dancing and music.
Ms Wang, Chinese Mandarin teacher, said "I was delighted to see the girls enjoying the Chinese traditional dances. The whole performance was a fantastic culture experience, and girls have learnt so much today. They were spellbound by the beautiful movement, bright and colourful costumes and the Chinese music – the show was a real treat!" Anne Stevens, Headmistress, said “At Heathfield we enjoy celebrations and learning about traditional Chinese arts and everyone from the Nursery upwards has taken part in some of our Chinese New Year events. The show today was spectacular and was extra special as the school is also celebrating its 112th Birthday.”