2009：STA Academic and Performing Group “Common Voice” Visit U.K. 30/04/2009

Invited by University of Leeds who initiated the European Union cultural communication project “Common Voice”， the academic and preforming group headed by Prof. Ge Lang， Vice President of STA and made up of Jin Yonglin， Gong Baorong，Lu Jun， Zhang Song， Li Yan and Yang Mei made a visit of exchange to U.K. from April 15 to 25.

The project “Common Voice” consists of two parts. The first part requires the creation members from both countries to produce a short play in the form of opera and traditional Chinese opera with the theme of “two mothers”. During the second part， scholars from China，U.K.， Finland and Austria exhchange their ideas， measures and vision on the subject of “tradition，innovation and development of classic arts in modern context”.

Centering on the above two themes， members of STA group of exchange attended eight seminars， watched two performances and communicated with internatinal students in University of Leeds， members of Northern Opera House Salon， librarians in University of Leeds. Meanwhile，members of performing group，young teachers of STA College of Chinese Opera， Zhang Song， Li Yan and the student Yang Mei successfully performed a short play with artists from U.K.. Members of academic group delivered four keynote speeches on the subjects of “training system for Chinese Opera talents”，“arts administration and education”， “community culture and theatre”，“who will lead youth into traditional arts”. Besides， members of academic group also visited Royal Academy of Dramatic Art， London Academy of Music and Dramatic arts. Both sides talked about each other’s school scale， majors， courses， teaching administration， social service and graduates’employment and discussed cooperation programs.