On the evening of November 14, a talent show was held by the International Cultural Exchange School (ICES) of Fudan University. The event was a dazzling showcase of musical prowess, rhythmic dance, and the rich tapestry of cultural expressions, all woven together through engaging performances put on stage by ICES students.
Let’s cast our eyes on four performers who graced the stage with their distinctive flair, leaving us with moments that will not soon be forgotten.
Karyan, a one-year language program student debuted four original songs that have yet to see the light of day. He is a blossoming music producer and rapper, specializing in the genre of Alternative Hip-Hop and Cloud Rap. His music is a compelling narrative that delves into one’s passions, interpersonal relationships, love and heartbreak, pursuit of wealth, etc.
Before Karyan started his music career at 15, he had already delved into visual arts like photo and video edits 3 years earlier for his passion in diverse artistic expression. Thanks to his passion in digital art, each of his songs is complemented by a video clip he created himself, a testament to his multifaceted creativity. To Karyan, China, with its vast expanse and diverse cultures, is a land that ignites curiosity, encourages experimentation, and sparks innovation, all of which can come together to shape his musical visions.
“When people engage with creative works, it makes them stop and think—about their feelings and their place in the world,” he said, sharing how music helps him process emotions and express himself. Karyan’s songs are available on music platforms.
Abdu, a German language student, preceded the carnival with a fascinating magic show. His performance featured three card tricks and culminated in a spectacular finale: the randomly chosen card was found written on a paper rabbit that the magician revealed at the beginning of the performance.
These tricks left the audience spellbound, testifying Abdu’s conviction that magic is a unique art, one that thrives on interaction, enchants audiences, and spreads joy.
This passionate magician has been perfecting his craft for over five years. His fascination with magic tricks began in high school when a classmate’s simple card trick piqued his interest, driving him to become adept at the art of illusion. Ever since, Abdu has never been without a deck of cards, constantly honing his skills.
Abdu’s commitment to magic has also earned him recognition. Back in 2022, to prepare for the 22nd Chinese Bridge, a competition for overseas students on their mastery of the Chinese language, he acquired an extensive magic-specific vocabulary under the tutelage of a teacher from the Confucius Institute in Frankfurt, and was able to perform his acts in Chinese proficiently during the competition. As a result, He won the first place in Germany and the third place globally.
Looking ahead, Abdu aspires to expand his repertoire beyond card tricks, incorporating props like coins and ropes, while also starting to take bookings to perform at different events like birthdays or anniversaries. Beneath the aspiration is his pure goal to evoke happiness and wonder through the power of illusion.
GUO Zhiyue, a teacher at ICES, captivated the audience with the heartfelt duet of a Chinese song Our Love with James W. Goh., one of her students from Australia.
Our love (“我们的爱”), a Mandopop classic first released in 2004 by F.I.R, a renowned pop rock band in China. Guo and Goh chose Our Love for its for its emotional depth and their shared admiration for this song. They also made slight adaptations to the lyrics, changing similar-sounding words to “Fudan”, creating a customized version that incorporated their love for the university.
Guo now serves as the instructor for three Chinese language courses at ICES. Driven by her deep passion for the arts, she integrates an understanding of art into her lectures, and encourages students to participate in stage performances during after-class chat.
“I feel really lucky to have met Ms. Guo. She’s patient, bubbly, thoughtful and sincere. The class lights up whenever she’s in the room, and we can always feel how much she cares for both our language learning and our personal well-being.” Goh shared.
Valerie Ng from Singapore put on a stunning ballroom dance performance. Her passion for ballroom dancing began at 3, and over the past 14 years, she has competed and triumphed in numerous international competitions across Germany, Serbia, Spain, Hong Kong, and more. On November 23, she participated in the DanceComp at Woodford Dolmen Hotel in Carlow, Ireland and gained 4th spot in World DanceSport Federation Open Youth, Adult and Senior.
Balancing ballroom dance with academics requires much resilience. While weekends during semesters are reserved for practice, vacations are entirely dedicated to dance. This disciplined approach has been the key to her consistent improvement, culminating in an impressive 7th place at last year’s World DanceSport Federation German Open Championships. Though she narrowly missed the finals then, when she got the 7th place, her hard work paid off when she climbed to 6th place later, securing her spot in the finals.
Valerie now enjoys being a member of the Fudan Ballroom Dance Association, where her fellow members, though not as experienced, bring contagious positive energy to the dance floor. She sees ballroom dance as both a sport and an art, demanding focus, perseverance, and a daring spirit. Her advice to aspiring dancers? Start with small goals but aim for greatness.
As the curtain fell on the evening, everyone who participated deserved a round of applause. The energy, enthusiasm and the radiant display of their diverse cultures and talents have made the talent show a night to remember.
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Presented by Fudan University Media Center
Writer: QUAN Ximin, LIU Siyu
Editor: WANG Mengqi, LI Yijie
