Singing melodically, moving gracefully and resplendent in colorful costumes, students of the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts impressed South Korea's First Lady, Kim Yoon-ok, with Peking Opera performance yesterday afternoon.

   The president's wife's special interest in Chinese folk operas prompted her visit to the academy despite a brief visit to Beijing, said Park Young-dae, the cultural counselor of the South Korean Embassy in China.

   When Kim arrived around 5 pm, six sophomore girls were learning to play with round silk fans from their teacher Wang Xiaoyan. The president's wife enjoyed their performance, following every step, especially their delicate hand gestures and soft footwork.

"Welcome to my class," said Wang, whose South Korean husband, Yoon Dong-jun, has learned Peking Opera at the academy for seven years. "The round silk fan is one of the major props of the actress in Peking Opera, and learning to play the fans is an important training in the performing course for the freshmen and sophomore students."

   In 1997, Yoon, who once studied drama at Seoul's Arts University, became the first South Korea student to learn Peking Opera at the academy.

   Ever since, the academy has admitted several South Korean students each year.

   Following the girls, teacher Shu Tong and student Luo Shuai performed a short piece of hualian (the painted-face) - roles usually played by frank and open-minded men with brightly colored faces.

   After the class, Kim visited the dressing room and watched two Peking Opera pieces: The Goddess of Heaven Scatters Flowers (Tiannv Sanhua) and The Crossroads (San Cha Kou).

                                       (China Daily 05/29/2008 page12)