Shen Yun Performing Arts
  • Tentang Shen Yun
    The Performance
    Baru kepada Shen Yun?
    9 Ciri-ciri Shen Yun
    Tarian Klasik China
    Orkestra Simfoni
    Factsheet
    The Company
    Cerita Kami
    Kehidupan di Shen Yun
    Cabaran Yang Kami Hadapi
  • Artis-artis
  • Video
  • Apa yang Baru
    Apa yang Baru
    Berita
    Blog
    Dalam Media
  • Siaran Akhbar
  • Soalan Lazim
  • Ulasan Penonton
  • Belajar Surat Berita Cari
    Melayu
  • English
  • 中文正體
  • 中文简体
  • 日本語
  • 한국어
  • Česky
  • Deutsch
  • Español
  • Français
  • Indonesia
  • Italiano
  • Nederlands
  • Polski
  • Português
  • Latviski
  • Pусский
  • Română
  • Svenska
  • Việt
  • עברית
  • Norsk
  • Tiket & Info
    Menu
    Shen Yun Logo
    Tiket
    Apa yang Baru
    Menu
    • Tentang Shen Yun
      • Baru kepada Shen Yun? 9 Ciri-ciri Shen Yun Cerita Kami Kehidupan di Shen Yun Fakta tentang Shen Yun Cabaran Yang Kami Hadapi Tarian Klasik China Orkestra Simfoni
    • Artis-artis
    • Video
    • Apa yang Baru
      • Apa yang Baru Berita Blog Dalam Media
    • Siaran Akhbar
    • Soalan Lazim
    • Ulasan Penonton
    Shen Yun 9 Characteristics Link Image

    Apa yang Membuat Kami Unik?

    DISCOVER THE 9 CHARACTERISTICS
    • Belajar
    • Langgan
    • Cari
    Language
    • English
    • 中文正體
    • 中文简体
    • 日本語
    • 한국어
    • Česky
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Indonesia
    • Italiano
    • Nederlands
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Latviski
    • Pусский
    • Română
    • Svenska
    • Việt
    • עברית
    • Norsk
      Blog
      Kembali Blog > Handy-Dandy Orchids

    Handy-Dandy Orchids

    Wolverine has retractable claws. Spiderman shoots webs from his wrists. Iron Man’s hands are equipped with repulsor rays. And Shen Yun’s female dancers? We have orchid palms.  

    Lesson One

    I can still recall my first dance studio with perfect clarity. The piney smell of the long wooden barres. The rows of quaint oriental windows, tempting us with views of sunshine in the summer and snowflakes in winter. And the giant floor-to-ceiling mirrors— the very ones through which I used to gaze skeptically at my younger, awkward-er self.

    Naive and uncertain, I didn’t know what to expect from this whole new world. But curiosity and fascination quickly erased any trace of reluctance in me. I was crossing the threshold into 5,000 years of marvelous stories and legends, history, literature, art, and knowledge of every pursuit. (Not to mention some very good food to boot.)

    But before delving into any of this, lesson one was... “The very definition of feminine grace,” as our teacher called it. And given that Chinese people have long considered orchids (蘭花 lan hua) a symbol of elegance, it all makes sense.

    The noble orchid lives deep within China’s mountainous valleys. Its delicate blossoms and ambrosial perfumes spread beauty and pleasure wherever it takes root. Countless generations have seen and loved the gentle orchid, and lifted their brush pens in praise. Even the eminent Confucius himself was among the spellbound crowd.  

    Wouldn’t you agree then, that an orchid makes the perfect companion for a dancing maiden’s hand?

    ‘Orchid Palms’ (lan hua zhang)

    With its great versatility, classical Chinese dance is able to convey just about anything imaginable. So forming the hands into a pair of orchids is no preposterous feat.

    This is how I remember “Orchid Palm 101”:

    Start with your hand relaxed but not lax. Press the straightened middle finger and thumb close toward each other. The other fingers should edge in toward the middle finger laterally, but not all on one plane. This brings out different layers of the orchid's petals. Use a dab of force and extend your finger digits to conjure a fresh, blooming flower.

    Your hands must retain this form while dancing, but not to a point of rigidity. Don’t forget: flowers are living things and must breathe and dance as well!

    Always at Hand

    As a tiny tot in school, one of the first things I learned was the English alphabet. I still use that lesson 365 days a year. Likewise, not a day goes by now that I don't need my first dance lesson, my orchid palms, constantly by my side.

    I’ll be sharing a few more classical Chinese dance 101’s in future blogs, so see you then!

    • Artist Perspectives
    • Tarian Klasik China
    • Dance Techniques
    • Flowers
    Betty Thumb

    Betty Wang

    Contributing writer

    Lihat semua siaran

    August 21, 2014

    RELATED CONTENT
    • Plum Thumb
      Petal Power
    Comments
    verification

    Sebelumnya

    Audioblog: Cleaning Up After the Qins

    Seterusnya

    Symphony Concert Countdown
    Terkini
    • Agama apakah Shen Yun?
      Dunhuang Sypa Thumb WhatisSY
    • Tahun Naga - 9 Perkara yang Perlu Tahu tentang Makhluk Mitos Ini
      9things
    Paling Popular
    • Semua
    • Berita
    • Blog
    Tunjukkan Lagi
    Tunjukkan Lagi
    Tunjukkan Lagi

    Tags

    • Artist Perspectives
    • Tarian Klasik China
    • Dance Techniques
    • Flowers
    Shen Yun logo golden
    Shen Yun logo golden

    Shen Yun Performing Arts yang ditubuhkan di New York, ialah syarikat tarian dan muzik China klasik terulung di dunia, pada tahun 2006. Ia mempersembahkan tarian klasik Cina, tarian etnik dan rakyat serta tarian berasaskan cerita, dengan iringan orkestra dan penghibur solo. Selama 5,000 tahun, budaya ketuhanan berkembang di tanah China. Melalui muzik dan tarian yang menakjubkan, Shen Yun menghidupkan semula budaya yang mulia ini. Shen Yun, atau 神韻, boleh diterjemahkan sebagai: "Keindahan makhluk syurga yang menari."

    Tentang
  • Baru kepada Shen Yun?
  • Orkestra Simfoni Shen Yun
  • Kehidupan di Shen Yun
  • Fakta tentang Shen Yun
  • Cabaran Yang Kami Hadapi
  • Shen Yun & Kerohanian
  • Temui Artis-artis
  • Soalan Lazim
  • Video
  • Terkini
  • Tentang Shen Yun
  • Artis-artis
  • Ulasan
  • Dalam Media
  • Apa yang Baru
  • Pilihan
  • Berita
  • Blog
  • Ulasan
  • Dalam Media
  • Belajar
  • Tarian China
  • Muzik
  • Muzik Vokal
  • Pakaian Shen Yun
  • Tayangan Digital
  • Props Shen Yun
  • Kisah dan Sejarah
  • Shen Yun dan Budaya Tradisional China
  • Berinteraksi dengan kami:
    Ikuti Kami di Gan Jing World
    Tandatangani Buku Pelawat Kami
    Kenali Lebih Lanjut tentang Shen Yun
    di Platform Penstriman Kami
    Pusat Penilaian Kemahiran Seni
    Barangan Mewah dan Kenang-kenangan
    Diilhamkan oleh Shen Yun
    Penari Shen Yun
    Laman Web Rasmi Seni Persembahan Shen Yun Hak Cipta ©2025 Shen Yun Performing Arts. Semua Hak Terpelihara.
    Hubungi Kami Syarat-syarat Privasi Peta laman