Colourful, graceful and shrouded in century-old traditions, Chinese dance is an art form that is gaining popularity the world over. There’s no better place to witness one of its many than while travelling in China. Here, the costumes, stories and legends come to life and, as Intrepid’s Cathy Shi explains, you get a taste of China’s multilayered history…
“When you think of China you don’t necessarily think of dancing. Yet, dance has a long history here. In fact, a 5000-year-old piece of pottery unearthed in Qinghai’s Datong County was decorated in the picture of three people dancing, confirming just how long dance has been around in China.
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If you’ve even seen the New Zealand All Blacks play rugby, then you will know the haka. Many may argue that this passionate tribal dance that’s performed at the start of each match is as exciting as the game itself. It’s become a Maori trademark and Intrepid’s Mac Brown loves sharing his culture with the world…
“The importance of the haka in our national psyche is difficult to explain. It is more than a war dance and a challenge. In many ways it reflects who I am and where I have come from. For me, doing the haka is the physical manifestation of my national pride and heritage.
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Lights, camera, action! Intrepid’s Jaclyn Lofts is always on the lookout for great movie locations, and this time her adventures took her behind the scenes in the Czech Republic…
“I’m a real movie buff, I absolutely love them and wherever I may be travelling I try to attend film festivals, from Sarajevo to Sundance. I also love visiting film locations. It’s always a bit of a buzz when you are standing in the exact same place where George Clooney once stood.
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Cuba is renowned for its rich heritage of music and dance and as Intrepid’s Claire Baxter discovered, you can’t help but tap your toes to the rhythms of Central America…
“Music and dance are everywhere in Cuba and definitely provided some of the great highlights of my trip. I’d been attending salsa classes for a year or two and was looking forward to practising with people who really knew how. When we arrived in Santiago our leader organised a fairly informal class in a private home so that we could all learn some basic steps and rhythms. Then before dinner we were taken to watch a band practise in what appeared to be akin to a garage. As well as being a wonderful opportunity to interact with the locals, the band encouraged us to get up and dance so that we could practise amongst ourselves without a whole club watching.
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The splendour of the big screen came to life in France for Intrepid’s Tamara Palinkas, when she enjoyed a walking holiday in Provence…
“In my opinion critics have been a little tough on the movie A Good Year, starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott. It’s true that the story is a bit predictable: Max, a British broker, inherits a rustic chateau with a vineyard in Provence. He decides to sell it, but he falls in love with the laid-back Provencal lifestyle and Fanny, a beautiful French woman. However, I loved watching it for the real star of the movie: the stunning countryside of Provence.
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How do they do it? Spinning an entire crockery set on a stick, trick cycling and balancing on flimsy ropes or tossing huge porcelain pots around like basketballs. Chinese acrobats always entertain with their amazing skills, but don’t feel too disheartened if they leave you questioning your own coordination, as they have been practicing since the 3rd century BC when it started with juggling daggers!
Intrepid’s Rachel Wasser loves joining her groups in China for a night of acrobatic entertainment and knows you’ll see nothing like it at home…
“A visit to the Beijing Acrobats is an experience that enhances any China tour. It’s a part of Chinese culture that you have heard about for years, or maybe even witnessed somewhere else, but viewing it from the audience in Beijing is something else entirely. Watching the kids balance on sticks in their mouths and spin discs on every limb is incredible. The climbing and jumping and spinning are all just dazzling!
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