The basic skills of opera include all aspects of technical levels in singing, reading out, performing, and fighting, dance movements, and stunts. Mastering basic skills is very important for any opera actor. The so-called mastering of basic skills actually means mastering all the performance abilities and means of expression in the art of opera performance.

Basic training of opera actors’ “four skills and five techniques”

The so-called “four skills and five techniques” refer to the basic training of actors. Because opera is a comprehensive performing art that combines drama, music, dance, and stunts, actors must undergo very strict training before they can get on the stage. Without solid basic skills, there would be no wonderful and moving performances on the stage.

The so-called “four skills” refer to “singing, reading out, performing, and fighting.” Since Bangzi Opera is an opera, it naturally must be sung by actors. In addition, it must be sung well. The characters on the stage must speak and read out the lines, and they must read out the lines in a rhythmic manner. Actors should not remain expressionless unless the plot requires it. Therefore, actors must act (perform), and they must perform the play touchingly. If the characters on the stage possess martial arts skills, there will be fighting scenes, and the fighting must be clean and neat.

The so-called “five techniques” refer to “hands, eyes, body, steps, and approaches.” “Hands” refers to gestures, “eyes” refers to expressions through eyes, “body” refers to body movements, “steps” refers to walking on the stage, and “approaches” are the coordinated application of the above techniques. In other words, every move of an actor’s hands, feet, and even an expression in the eyes must be very particular. It must not only fit the identity of the character, but also reflects a sense of beauty.

Opera actors’ “basic skills” on stage

• Waist and leg skill: It is an actor’s basic skill, as well as a required course for practicing somersaults. Both dance and martial arts of opera require the use of waist and leg skills. Without waist and leg skills, an actor would not be able to flexibly control the shifting and leaping of the body’s center of gravity. Waist and leg skills can also make the actor’s body movements graceful and coordinated.
• Weapon props skill: “Weapon props” is the collective name for military weapon props on the opera stage. Only by mastering and applying weapon props techniques precisely can actors express characters’ martial arts fighting scenes on stage. In performances, weapon props are divided into two types: serious weapon props and funny weapon props. The former refers to creating a solemn and majestic atmosphere through serious martial arts; the latter is mostly used in joking martial arts, which is characterized by humor and making people laugh.
• Blanket somersault skill: It is to practice various somersaults, i.e. each part of the body demonstrates jumping, falling, turning, rolling, leaping, crossing, and other action skills. In traditional opera training, the training of hand, waist and leg movements is also a component of opera performance martial arts skills. The training is done on a blanket to prevent injuries; hence it is called blanket somersault.
• Handkerchief skill: It is commonly seen in opera and refers to the performance skills of using handkerchiefs in opera. The movements are lively and vivid, adding to the dramatic atmosphere.
• Flowing sleeve skill: At the front of the sleeve of clothing, there is usually a section of white silk, which is the “flowing sleeve.” The flowing sleeve is an extension and amplification of gestures. When performing, the movement looks like rippling water. The character’s personality and status can also be portrayed through the flowing sleeve. Therefore, actors cannot use the flowing sleeve casually. They must use the various movements of the flowing sleeve precisely according to the character, age and mood of the character they are playing.
• Hair shaking skill: Hair shaking skill is one of the basic skills of opera performance. It is a stage performance technique in which opera actors express the excitement of characters by shaking hair on the stage. Hair shaking skill is mostly used on male characters.
• Peacock feather dancing skill: There are two long feathers inserted in the actor’s hat, which can also be held in the hand for dancing. The two long feathers are “peacock feathers.” In addition to being used to set off a character’s identity, peacock feather can also express the character’s joy, pride, panic, worry and other emotions. The skill of dancing with peacock feathers is called “peacock feather dancing skill.”
• Beard skill: Most of the characters wearing beards are older characters. The beard can be used to perform various actions to express the specific emotions of the characters in the play. The training of this basic skills is called “beard skill.”

Top