Kunqu Opera performance is based on rigorous “singing and dancing”. The characteristics of Kunqu Opera performance are lyric, exquisite actions and harmonious singing and dancing. Kunqu Opera is the performance art which combines drama, music, dance and special tricks. Thus, it requires strict training to become the actors who should accomplish “four skills and five techniques” in order to be on the stage with remarkable performance. In addition, in order to play the roles, the actors must practice basic steps, leg training and essential dances which are the required subjects to train Kunqu Opera actors.

Traditional Chinese opera actors’ basic “four skills” --singing, speaking, acting and fighting
Singing:it is the main measure to perform the inner feelings or narration of the characters. According to different kinds of traditional opera, the music is different.
Speaking:It means the dialogues or monologues of the characters in the play. It is poetic and musical language of drama.
Acting:It refers to the poses, facial expression and manners of the actors. It is the main part of the performance of the traditional opera.
Fighting:When the characters on the stages are familiar with martial art, there will be the fighting scenes which should be efficient. There are sometimes dual fighting and sometimes the battles. Fighting is significant performance of dance.

Traditional Chinese opera actors’ basic “five techniques” --hand, eye, body, walk and pose

“Hand” means gesture, “eye” is eye expression, “body” means posture, “walk” means steps and “pose” is the harmony of the previous skills. In other words, the actors should be rigorous about all the details. They should match the identities of the characters and show the aesthetic characteristics.

Traditional Chinese opera actors’ “basic techniques” on the stage
Waist technique:it is the technique training for the actors’ flexible waist and flipping and fighting skill.
Fighting technique:holding of weapons, dance to hold the weapons and dual fighting of weapons.
Carpet technique:basic training of flipping, throwing, falling and rolling on the carpet.
Table technique:jumping up and down from the table.
Long sleeve technique:long sleeve is extension of gestures and it resembles the waves in dances.
Fan technique:The dance of fan conveys the characters’ thoughts and emotion.
Hair waving technique:it is the special technique of mostly male characters to show the strong emotion such as fear, grief and indignation, pain, fleeing for life and dying struggle.
Technique of peacock feathers:on the stage, the actors’ hats are often decorated with two long feathers which show the mood and manners of the character.
Whisker technique:the actors’ beards or whiskers can show various postures to reveal the specific emotion of the characters in the play.

Reference:
Chen,Fang.The Performance and Inheritance of Kun Opera.Taipei City:National.Publishing House,2010.
5:30 hideouthttps://yen530.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/中國傳統戲曲系列之崑曲/

Source of Photos:Provided by Taiwan Jingkun Opera Troupe

Go Top