Scholar-dancers at practice
Musical instruments used in the ceremony
Groups of students practicing dance moves, working tirelessly to memorize each of the three sections of the dance routine. They run through the sequence time and time again, determined to get it right. Adult volunteers and teachers are busy steaming the costumes and getting props ready. Saturday, September twelfth, was one of the last practice sessions before the performance day. The 45th Northern California Annual Confucius Memorial Ceremony is hosted by The Committee for The Confucius Memorial Ceremony. This year, it will be held at the Culture Center of the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in San Francisco (Milpitas) on September twenty, starting at ten in the morning. Not only will the memory of Confucius be honored, but outstanding teachers from the Northern California area will also be celebrated for their dedication to educating the next generation.
Dancing Director Carol Ma has been teaching the ritual for thirty years. The ceremony has many moving parts, with the bulk of the ceremony showcasing thirty-six scholar-dancers, who are supported by six musicians. There are several rituals along the way, such as opening the gate and escorting the spirit. Drumming controls the dance speed, while the Chinese flute and polyphonic sheng bring the melody. The students participating in this production range from grade six through twelve.
General Convener Annie Yi gave us some background on the history of the Confucius Memorial Ceremony: “The Committee was formed in 1982, garnering public support and praise through the years. Confucius was a phenomenal teacher and philosopher. We hope that his teachings can continue to positively influence generations to come.”
Scholar-dancer Emily Wang shared her thoughts on the upcoming event, “I have been a dancer at the Confucius Ceremony for the past four years, so I am actually excited to see how I do at the performance. In previous years, I have danced among my friends, being able to peek over at them. Now, it is just me and the other people at the front leading everyone. I feel confident, and that makes me really happy. A lot of teachers are learning the ropes this year. I know that there are a lot of people involved in coordinating this event and many people have made sacrifices to be here. I am excited to see what the future holds for this event!”
The Northern California Confucius Memorial Ceremony is the oldest and largest overseas event for remembering Confucius. Celebrate teachers and come see the fruits of everyone’s efforts at the event this Sunday!
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