Manhong Wu of West Windsor is seeing one of her dreams come true since she joined LanYun Dance Group in 2005. “I did not get a chance to dance when I was younger even though I liked it very much,” she says. “I have learned to dance, practice, and even perform on stage now.” She will perform at “Rhythm of the Dance,” a celebration of the 10th anniversary of LanYun Dance Troupe with two hours of stylized dancing directed by Li Dongli. The program will be held at North Brunswick High School on Saturday, January 9.
Born in China, Wu began studying violin when she was five and soon after joined a dance team. “When there was a practice conflict, my mom helped me make the decision to quit dance to focus on violin,” she says. “From then I played violin until I finished college in China.” She earned her master’s degree in computer science at Montclair State University and is an IT professional with the state information technology department.
“There is no conflict between work and dance at all — on the other hand, dance can help me to release the stress from anything and recharge myself,” she says. “Our team really has very good relationships, we have great fun.”
The family moved to West Windsor in 2000 and the children attend HuaXia Chinese School in Plainsboro. “The reason we chose West Windsor is because of the good school system and train station,” she says. “Both of our children are in the Chinese school because I would like them to carry our culture on,” she says. “It will be easier to communicate with them when they grow up if we can share our culture with them now.”
Her husband, Jay Liu, is director of Checkpoint Publishing Systems at Thomson Reuters in New York City. “He supports my hobby and involvement with the Chinese-American community,” she says. “His hobby is playing soccer. With small children and work, we are still lucky enough to get time to exercise.”
Their son Eric Liu, a fifth grade student at Village School, plays piano and cello, and is a member of the West Windsor Plainsboro Soccer Travel A team. Their daughter, Alison Liu, a third grade student at Dutch Neck School, also plays piano. A gymnast since she was five, she has earned many gold medals but is on a hiatus for now. She is on the Chinese dance team and the ballet dance team.
The dance group, founded at HuaXia Chinese school in 1999 with a group of dance enthusiasts parents, practices at High school North every Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. There is one adult team, and group for ages 10 to 13, and one for ages 6 to 10.
From the moment the curtain rises the dancers plunge into a festival ritual and then a Chinese dance, a blend or the Orient with modern influence. The program also includes a colorful world of diverse Chinese dance culture including Tibetan, Mogolian, Dai, Uighur, Korean, Yi, and classical Chinese dance. The LanYun Youth Dance Troupe will showcase three energetic dances: Tao Yao, Youth Riding Dance, and Zha Mou Ah.
“The ensembles with enchanting costumes and choreography will be a cultural show to transport the audience to beautiful, wonderful, quintessential Chinese culture,” says Wu.
Chinese Dance, LanYun Dance Groupe, North Brunswick High School, 98 Raider Road, North Brunswick. 609-240-5549. Saturday, January 9, 6:30 p.m.
