Hundreds Enjoy Traditional Chinese Dagu Performance at Cerritos College

Roughly 400 people filled the Cerritos College's Student Center on March 21 when it hosted a Beijing drum song (Jingyun Dagu) international cultural performance.

In partnership with Michigan University Confucius Institute, UCLA Confucius Institute, San Diego State University Confucius Institute and Rio Hondo College, Cerritos College invited distinguished artists Yang Fengjie, Wang Hongmin, Xia Yan, and Zheng Liwen from China.

China's teahouses have long been sites where family and friends gather to sip tea, share thoughts and enjoy entertainment. Cerritos College recreated this tradition with an evening of tea, community and art, featuring performances by the master artists of the Beijing drum song (Jingyun Dagu) tradition from Tianjin, China.

Beijing Drum Song (Jingyun Dagu) is a regional style of performing art narrative ballad singing that emerged in the late 19th century in China's capital. Through song, gesture and instrumental music, the artists enacted scenes from the stories of the epic novels Water Margin and Romance of the Three Kingdoms for the house full of audience.

"These stories are well known in China," said Cerritos College Trustee Dr. Shin Liu.

One elder attendee was in tear while watching the performance. It was the first time she was able to see the performance after she left China, she said. She appreciated that the college put together the performance for the community.

Elected officials also supported the performance, including 58th district Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, Cerritos City councilmembers George Ray and Carol Chen, the city's Economic Development Commissioner Rosalinda Law and ABC Unified School District boardmember Sophia Tse enjoyed the performance and presented certifications of appreciation to the artists.

The attendees enjoyed traditional tea and tea cookies following the performance.

- Cerritos College Media Relations