Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.s2.t8.9

v2.c11.s2.t8.9

**Influence in India** Sarabhai, the President of Darpana Academy of Performing Arts where Zhang Jun and Liu Youlan first studied, was surprised that they only took six months to learn all courses of Bharatanatyam. At that time, Mallika, the daughter of the president, was a little girl. In 2002, when she came to China, she specially went to Beijing Dance Academy in order to visit Zhang Jun, and listened to the Bharatanatyam course of oriental class. Birju Maharaj, the doyen of Kathak, gave Zhang Jun an Indian name Shanu, and called her "stone woman". Because of her spirit and hardwork, she was also admired by all the students from Kathak Kendra. Before she returned to China, all the teachers and students still had a great attachment to her, and students of Darpana came from Gujarat to New Delhi to see off Zhang Jun and Liu Youlan.