The local dance "Dragon Boat Drums" performed by 10 alumni and students of UESTC-Zhongshan Institute received warm applause from the audience in the afternoon of March 31.

The show has been selected into the Chinese Traditional Cultures Promotion and Demonstration Documentary program of the Ministry of Education. Presently, the China Central Television crew is filming in Zhongshan. The program is expected to be presented on the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival.

"The dance was inspired by dragon boat race movements. It has the responsibility of promoting Chinese traditional cultures and conserving cultural confidence." According to Zhu Dongli, an Associate Professor and Director of the Art Center of UESTIC-Zhongshan Institue. "The performance has received national and provincial prizes so many times in the past 20 years."

In 1995, Zhu was introduced to Zhongshan as a special talent from Henan Province. Being awarded various prizes, she focused on gathering and sorting materials of the endangered "dragon boat drums" for re-creation since 1999. Over a year, her dance work "Dragon Boat Drums" was finally created.

In the past 20 years, the Lingnan-style "Dragon Boat Drums" dance has been passed down from senior schoolmates to younger ones in UESTC-Zhongshan Institute. Over 100 students have taken part in the "Dragon Boat Drums" performances, and they also brought it to other stages after graduation.