Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.s2.t8.4

v2.c11.s2.t8.4

**Life** Zhang Jun was born in Wuhan, Hubei. Her mother was a professor of classical literature, and her father used to study in Germany, and later worked in Shanghai Research Institute of Culture and History. Since both her parents loved art, she grew up under their influence and showed her talents since she was a child. At the age of 14, she was admitted to the Third Field Army Xin’an Tour Group (later renamed as Shanghai Opera House), to be a dancer. In 1954, she visited India, Indonesia and Burma along with the Chinese cultural delegation led by the premier Zhou Enlai. Under the guidance of Dai Ailian who was the founder of dance in new China, she first learned classical dance from Uday Shankar, who was the master of Indian dance. In 1956, she joined Beijing Dance School (now Beijing Dance Academy) for further studying. She planned to learn ballet from an expert from the Soviet Union, but under the advice and intentional arrangement of Dai Ailian, she turned to learn the dance of India and Southeast Asia, and from then on, she became interested in Indian dance. In 1957, Uday Shankar came to China, and Zhang Jun learned the ‘*Dance of Bouncing the Ball*’ from Uday Shankar. This dance brought Zhang Jun great fame, and was performed in the convention building of China Oriental Performing Arts Group. On November 6, 1957, Beijing Dance School opened the first oriental music and dance class (hereinafter referred to as the “oriental class”), in modern China, and Zhang Jun took part in the recruitment of students and organisation, and served as a dance instructor. Meanwhile, she led her students to learn the dance of nearly 10 countries such as India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and others. On January 5, 1961, the oriental class visited Burma along with the Premier Zhou Enlai, Zhang Jun and Zhao Shizhong’s ‘*Classical* *Pas De Deux of Burma*’ received a warm welcome from the Prime Minister U Nu and the audiences, and they were honoured as “Burmese princess and prince flying from China” by local media. In the farewell banquet held by the Premier Zhou Enlai, the oriental class headed by Zhang Jun performed the folk dance of many countries. On January 13, 1962, the China Oriental Performing Arts Group was established. As the main actor and professional instructor, Zhang Jun became one of the founders of the group. In 1963, Zhang Jun visited Cambodia along with a Chinese delegation led by Enlai, and performed Cambodian classical dance ‘*Fairy in Spring Garden*’ taught by Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, who was the daughter of Prince Norodom sihanouk, receiving high praise, and she was even awarded medals by the prince, and called “Buppha Devi from China” by the local media.