From April 2 to 3, 2025, a delegation from Thaksin University (Thailand) led by Vice President for Student Affairs Miss Siraya Sitthisarn, comprising 5 faculty members and 22 students, visited the School of Arts at Chongqing University. The two institutions engaged in a two-day cultural and artistic exchange program, enhancing cross-cultural exchanges and mutual learning between the two countries' traditional dance cultures through mutual teaching and performances.
Day 1: Cross-Cultural Artistic Immersion
On April 2, the exchange began with Thai students showcasing traditional Thai dance costumes and inviting Chongqing University students to try them on. The delegation then demonstrated the basic movements and rhythmic characteristics of Thai classical dance. In return, Lin Xiao, a faculty member from the Dance Department, guided Thai students through the techniques of Chinese Han-Tang dynasty classical dance. Both sides explored the similarities and differences in their dance traditions, deepening their appreciation of the historical and cultural significance embedded in each movement. Additionally, Thai participants experienced Chinese calligraphy, paper-cutting, and folk songs under the guidance of faculty members Kuang Chengquan and Yang Chuanguo.
Day 2: Joint Performance Showcasing Cultural Heritage
On April 3, a collaborative dance showcase was held in Classroom DYA110. Thaksin University students performed Manohra's Sacrificial Dance and The Power of Faith – Kris of the Rice Sheaf, which dramatize southern Thai myths and agricultural beliefs. Chongqing University's School of Arts students presented four Han-Tang classical pieces: White Silk (depicting banquet rituals), The Confucius Says (inspired by Confucian philosophy), The Woodcutter's Song (celebrating rural labor), and Mutual Affinity (symbolizing cultural harmony). These works highlighted the diversity of Chinese traditional dance.
Closing Ceremony: Building Future Collaborations
Following the performances, Peng Xiaoxi, Vice Dean of the School of Arts, and Zhao Qian, Director of the Dance Department, presented completion certificates to the Thai delegation. In her closing remarks, Peng emphasized that "the students have built a bridge for artistic dialogue through dance. This exchange marks not just a beginning but lays the groundwork for future collaborative creations and faculty-student exchanges". The event concluded successfully, paving the way for deeper Sino-Thai artistic cooperation.
