On July 31, the Zhejiang Wu Opera Art Academy (Zhejiang Wu Opera Troupe) welcomed a group from the Elvis Dance Art Troupe in Cape Town, South Africa. This event was organized by the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office on behalf of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). The South African dancers and the Zhejiang Wu Opera actors came together for a special cultural and artistic exchange. The result was a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere, creating a one-of-a-kind and thrilling experience for the audience.

In this milestone year of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa, Jinhua holds special significance as the final destination for the visit of the Elvis Dance Art Troupe from the Cape Town Theater. “This choice was purposeful, as Jinhua has been instrumental in strengthening the bonds between China and Africa through trade and cultural interactions,” said Zhang Yaqin, deputy director of the Cultural Exchange Department of the CPAFFC.

At the event, the Zhejiang Wu Opera Troupe performed “Lyu Bu and His Horse” and “Sizhou City.” The Elvis Dance Art Troupe from Cape Town Theater delivered their dance “Manyano: The Spirit of Ubuntu.” The artists displayed unique charm of their arts. The fusion of South African dance and Wu Opera created a vibrant atmosphere, igniting several moments of excitement throughout the performance.

“I had a wonderful time during this visit to Jinhua. The people here are incredibly friendly, and the art scene here is remarkable,” shared Nomthandazo Thandi Mlungwana, Minister of International Exchange at Cape Town Theater in South Africa and the head of the Elvis Dance Art Troupe. After seeing the Wu Opera performance, she was genuinely amazed, “I thought Wu Opera might be similar to Italian opera, but I was taken aback by its distinctive makeup, costumes, and performance style.” (Text by Ji Junlei, photo by Chen Bin)