mollmatt

Our high school band director is considering taking our group of 250-300 students and chaperones on a trip to China. The trip is 10 days/8 nights and the kids would see the major sites in and near Beijing. Does anyone have any thoughts on this or experience? The band has travelled extensively overseas in past years. We just aren't sure about going to China.....Our band is known for it's "dancing", which could be considered suggestive to some. (Think similar to the FAMU marching band of Florida) Would that be offensive to the Chinese people or would it even be an issue?

Neil_Oz

mollmatt, with so many suggestive dancers to shepherd you'll need chaperones, all right.

Seriously, though, while I can't answer the question, my 2c worth: it seems to me that if the band is contemplating public performances this will take some organising with a sponsoring body in China. Whether at national or Beijing city government level I don't know, but obviously your kids can't just walk into Beihai Park and start dancing, although I'm sure the locals would love it. You're not allowed to walk on the grass, for a start.

I would think therefore that your director will need to make contact with the cultural affairs officer at the Chinese Embassy, either directly or maybe via a local consulate if that's more convenient. This should be done ASAP as decisions may not be made at American speed and would provide an opportunity to show the diplomat concerned a video of your band for his or her opinion. (If it's a him, you could hook up a blood-pressure gauge as he watches )
Good luck,
Neil

mollmatt

The director is already working with an company that organizes trips for bands all over the world. There is already a set itinerary with performances scheduled at different locations that this company arranges.

JamesA

Sounds fun ! I agree with Neil, you certainly need to get the US Embassy in beijing involved as far in advance as possible plus the Cultural Affairs people of the Chinese Embassy as Neil says.

It will take plenty of logistics, you certainly need those people involved and in contact at an early stage of planning.

Have you thought about 'cultural exchange', this is often very hightly 'favoured'!

Perhaps if there is a musical section of a high school/college in Beijing then when your band visits there, they have something in the musical field to visit your home area. Your local school would set up all arrangements for them at your end and the one in Beijing would do likewise for you.

Also try the Culturaldepartment at State department, you might well find that you might not have to put your hands as deep into your bank accounts as you might think, I am wild guessing here but a lot of this sort of cultural 'exchange' is favoured by government departments and you could find if you are lucky a lot of costs being 'covered' if it is done as a cultural exchange between students.
Your timing is excellent as the present of China is currently visiting.

Good luck !

JamesA

Typo: As the President of china is currently visiting the U.S
( Cultural Exhanges are very often 'sponsored' by the Cultural Affairs sections of respective governments, bottom line is flights and things get paid for! )

petitepois

This could be a great experience for the group but - wow ! - 250-300 students is a lot of kids - anywhere in the world! However, since it's a planned trip and only includes Beijing, I'm sure it would be logistically fine and a wonderful, enriching experience to boot. On another note - this doesn't sound at all like the type of cultural exchange program for the American embassy, which generally support pro-democracy or freedom of speech not, sorry, dancers. And as for shocking - they've seen it all in China... I think those "chinamen" (thanks Bagmanfred for your lovely RACIST terminology) are a bit more sophisticated then you give them credit for...