Nativity story gets traditional Chinese treatment

WUHAN, China (UCAN) –- A seminarian in a Wuhan parish has produced a traditional Chinese dance drama telling the story of Christ’s birth.

Huang Beifang, who also played the part of the innkeeper in the drama, said he believed “this initiative was unprecedented.”

“Dancing shows the beauty of body language. It can be a means of evangelization and a way of praying to God and enhancing spiritual life,” said Huang.

Other performers at the Christmas Eve production included three young men, who acted as shepherd boys, dancing in front of the manger and blowing on Chinese flutes.

The dozen or so actors also prepared other programs for the celebration, held before midnight Mass in the compound of the Holy Family Church in Wuhan city, Hubei province.

The Youth Fellowship of St. Paul who performed the dance drama won warm applause from an audience of 500 comprising Catholics and non-Catholics, Chinese and foreigners, who braved the freezing cold.

Huang said his aim was to promote inculturation within the Church so as to tell people “the Word was made flesh for every race.” He said producing the dance drama was a challenge as the dozen performers were not professional dancers but Catholic university students.

Luke Ni Luanru, who acted as Joseph, told UCA News that the Chinese costume and background music helped him get into his role easier. The young layman had never learnt dancing but he felt satisfied with his solo dance which he had practiced for a month.

He believed a Chinese-style Nativity dance drama “can help non-Catholics understand the true meaning of Christmas.”

“We should not use Western ways to spread the Gospel to our countrymen,” he added.

The two-hour show also included hymn singing, prayers, comedy sketches, a performance by a seminarians’ music band, and a Santa Claus giving out gifts to children.

An American, Abrraham Rockferry who is studying in Wuhan, played his guitar and sang “Silent Night.” He said English-speaking parishioners wanted to contribute their talents to the Christmas show, which he described as warm and cheerful.
CH08454.1582 December 29, 2009 35 EM-lines (337 words)