Chapter 8: Fan Dance

The musicians begin a new set of tunes which demand more rigorous and sensuous dances. This one is a feather dress dance which requires us to dance out a fantasy scene narrated by Daoshi Lim. I do my best to create a dance compatible with the narration and the rhythm of the music. Fortunately the traditional tall feather headdress is replaced by a trio of feathers in our hair. Similarly, we aren’t expected to wear dresses adorned with feathers. Even so, it’s a much more complicated dance and, as I feared, is far beyond the ability of most of us. However, we try hard and, despite the mistakes, everyone keeps on dancing. Our efforts earn the respect of the audience, many of whom seem sympathetic to our struggles. However, before long, I join some of the other dancers in edging towards the back of the group, where we might be less noticeable. By the time the dance ends, only AhLin is dancing at the front of our group.

I think AhLin’s success is because she seems able to transport her mind into the story being told. Zihan seems able to enter that state of mind as well, but she lacks the brazen ambition of AhLin to dance boldly. For my part, this performance underscores why I was selected to be trained as a daoshi rather than a concubine.

The next dance begins a minute later. Like the previous one, it is a lively dance which requires grace and coordination. It’ll be the last dance with all twelve dancers, unless Daoshi Lim is required to alter her programme again. Traditionally Mìngfù Jing’s guest of honour ... Chiang Chen, in this case ... chooses which six dancers are to continue, but I have a strong suspicion that several others in the audience will be influencing his choice.

As the dance progresses, it becomes clear that AhLin and Zihan are the best dancers of the six adults, and Huifen and Luli are the best among the adolescents. I would place myself among the next best four, but the audience may feel differently. The wider audience continues to encourage all the dancers although I can see Mìngfù Jing conferring with Chiang Chen and several others. They are clearly making their choice.

The performance finishes and we withdraw to an area by the door reserved for our use. We watch carefully as our judges confer. Two men are being particularly passionate in offering Chiang Chen their advice. After a short while Mìngfù Jing brings their discussion to a close. She summons Shuchang to convey the judges decision to us.

“AhLin, Zihan, Meizhen, Luli, Huifen and Rou will continue,” says Shuchang when he comes over to us. “You have two minutes to prepare. The rest of you may watch their performance from here.”

The six of us briefly retire to a side room to change our costumes for a traditional fan dance. At least we have practised this dance before. The large fans we hold in our hands are used to emphasise the flowing movement of our arms. It’s a tiring dance as it requires holding heavy fans while making constant and sweeping movements with our arms. None of us have exercised our arm and wrist muscles sufficient to perform this dance for more than five minutes.