Search
A Month-Long Chinese Martial Arts Celebration
A Month-Long Chinese Martial Arts Celebration
The Lied Center for Performing Arts is hosting a month-long celebration of Chinese Martial Arts during the month of October. Come celebrate the rich history of Chinese Martial Arts with our exciting events that include films, lectures, master classes, workshops and performances. These programs are offered in collaboration with the Confucius Institute and in conjunction with the Lied Center season performance of the Chinese Warriors of Peking.
Film & Pre-Show Lecture: Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey
Wednesday, October 10
The Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center
6:30pm Pre film lecture by Roz Hussin
7:00pm Film Screening
FREE and OPEN to the public
Doors open at 6:15pm
The Confucius Institute is holding a film festival for three Chinese film titles free and open to the public at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center from October 5th to October 11th. For tickets, just show up at the theater. All films are subtitled in English.
Chinese Martial Arts Master Classes
Sunday, October 14
Lied Commons, Lied Center for Performing Arts
Registration for this event is required. Please fill out the registration form HERE.
More detailed information and an agenda timeline for this event can be found HERE.
12:00-12:30pm: Registration and Check in
12:30-3:00pm: All-Levels Master Class
3:00-3:30pm: Practitioners Sharing Session
3:30-5:00pm: Master Class for Advanced Practitioners
5:00-5:30pm: Q&A and closing
Weapons used in traditional Chinese Martial Arts (CMA), and the manner in which they are applied, are as diverse as the CMA systems. Nearly universal among the CMA systems is the concept that weapons are extension of the body, and thus, weapons training is not treated as a separate body of learning, but is practiced as a translation of empty-handed techniques into movement with weapons. Common to most to CMA systems is practice with bladed weapons, e.g. Dao (saber) and Jian (straight sword), and pole weapons. Training with the Kun (staff) is the foundation to understanding all other pole weapons. Techniques for the Kun can involve both ends of the weapon (“doubled head”) or emphasize one end (‘single head”).
In the first part of this program (All-levels Master Class), participants will be introduced to the Jian as practiced in Taijiquan (or Tai Chi), Dao as practiced in Bagua , and the double-headed Kun from Choy Lay Fut. Participants will experience the footwork and hand techniques typical within each system, and then learn how empty-handed techniques are applied in moving the weapons.
The focus in the second part of the program (Master Class for Advanced Practitioner) will be on the single-headed Kun. Instructor Yuen will present deflection, circling, striking and thrusting techniques, along with footwork, used in the Choy Lay Fut System. Participants will apply techniques in partner exercises, using the soft, “sticking” energy as practiced in Tai Chi. This manner of practice helps to develop sensitivity while allowing the weapons movements and the correlating footwork to be executed with greater fluidity and precision. Finally, participants will learn a solo short form, or choreography, in which the techniques are connected together in a continuous exercise.
A professor of plant pathology at UNL, also harbors a life-long passion for martials arts. He trained in diverse martial arts, including Choy Lay Fut, a “hard” style originating from southern China; Yang Taijiquan, a “soft” style from northern China; and the Japanese art of Judo. He has over 40 years of martial arts experience, and has been providing instruction in Taijiquan in Lincoln for over 25 years. He also was the first to introduce and teach Lion Dance, the Chinese martial arts-based performance form, to Lincoln audiences.
An architect by profession, and currently an Instructional Design Technology Specialist at UNL. She began martial arts later in life, but immersed through intensive training 7 days a week for 5 years. She is the senior disciple under the tutelage of Dr Gary Yuen in Taijiquan and Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu, and is herself, an instructor in Taijiquan. She also cross-trains in Taiko - the art of Japanese drumming.
An instructor in Chen Style Tai Chuan and a practitioner of traditional Chinese healing arts at his clinic - Water By The River. He has studied Chinese Martial Arts since 2001, primarily Chen Style Taiji with the late Master Cheng Jin Cai. Instructor Wollen is currently training with Bradford Tyrey, one of the world's last lineage holders of Sun Style Nei Jia Chuan (Internal Martial Arts). He has also trained with masters in other Chinese Martial Arts (Bagua and Taiji). Instructor Wollen also holds a Master's Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Founder and Director of Jing Mo Tong Athletic Association, a school for Traditional Chinese Lion Dance and Martial Arts. Director Petersen, who began martial arts training at the age of 6, is schooled in several martial art styles, as well as classical and modern lion dance, from a number of renown masters. He is also a board member and certified competition judge for the United States Dragon & Lion Dance Federation (USDLDF).
Sunday, October 21
UNL Sculpture Garden (just north of the Lied Center)
11:30am - 3:45pm
More detailed information and an agenda timeline for this event can be found HERE.
Join us for educational and interactive pre show activities for all ages including a Martial Arts demonstration and workshop, a Lion Dance demonstration and workshop, a ritual Lion Dance welcoming the artists and patrons and a Pre Performance talk.
Timeline of events:
- 12:00-12:55pm: Martial Arts demonstration and workshop. All ages welcome! FREE and open to the public.
- 1-1:55pm: Lion Dance demonstration and workshop. All ages welcome! FREE and open to the public.
- 2:00pm: Ritual Lion Dance Welcoming Ceremony. FREE and open to the public.
3:30-3:45pm: Pre Performance talk in the Steinhart Room. Speaker: Dr. Gary Yuen. First come first served for ticket holders.
Other exciting events include:
Rhythm of Peace—Movement for Change
Tuesday, October 23
Sheldon Museum of Art—Grand Hall
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
LiFETiME - Liminality in Flux, Experiencing Transitioning in Motion Eternally is an interdisciplinary collaboration between Taiji Practitioner Roz Hussin, Modern Dancer Hye-Won Hwang, Cellist Karen Becker, and Visual Artist Geraldine Dobos.
Choreographed by Hwang and Hussin, LiFETiME is a narrative fusion performance piece that melds Taijiquan, a traditional Chinese internal martial art, with Modern dance, a broad expressive genre of Western concert dance. The accompanying cello music score is an original composition by Becker, while the stage set and props were envisioned by Dobos, and collectively produced by Dobos and the Lincoln community, in a series of hands-on public workshops.
LiFETiME is one of five performance pieces in the Rhythm of Peace—Movement for Change concert, hosted by the Glenn Korff School of Music, in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. This event was conceived as a reflection of the artists’ desire to promote peace and respect in the Lincoln community among people of diverse backgrounds. For more information: https://events.unl.edu/music/2018/10/23/131587/
Follow Our Lied