Behind the scenes: National Day parades
- Source: Global Times
- [17:52 September 24 2009]
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More than 1,000 students dance in traditional costume on the Minzu University of China athletic fields, rehearsing for their big performance during the National Day festivities Thursday night. Photo: CFP
By Sun Chenghao
Thursday, 7 pm. Students of Minzu University of China (MUC) flocked to the stands of their athletics field, scrambling to get a good view.
Minutes later, 900 students and professors representing 25 different departments were met with a salvo of cheers as they paraded through the grounds.
Performing a medley of ethnic minority dances choreographed by students from the MUC School of Dance to the Sino sing-a-long I Love China, the event marked the first time the under-wraps rehearsals were made public.
When the 4-minute, 500 meter-long routine next has an audience, it will be in front of millions during the National Day festivities, part of a daylong string of patriotic performances in Tian'anmen Square on October 1.
Preparations started in early July and will continue on right to the eve of the holiday, students giving up four hours of their summer vacation every day to participate. Luckily, rehearsal time has been cut in half since the semester started.
"Training during the summer was flexible. If it rained, we would put in a little more practice. If it was too hot, we would take it easier," said Xu Xiaojuan, deputy secretary of the MUC Youth League Committee. "Now the school keeps the showers and some cafeterias open till 10:30pm just for students coming back late from rehearsals."
Performers also get an allowance of 32 yuan ($4.70) a day, and all the heatstroke preventatives and sunscreen they need to keep on their feet, according to Xu.
