Liyuanxi gestures
Hxy is going back to Tw so I am going to learn my songs from her tonight. 6 verses of Do Ma~ Good luck to me!
Liyuanxi has alot of gestures which are unique to Liyuanxi and other opera types do not use this gestures. Unless they copy the gestures. I already saw some GZX copying these gestures. I myself sometimes use these gestures in GZX but I alter them abit to match GZX more.
The most important hand gesture is Pang Xie Shou (螃蟹手). Pang Xie Shou is used very often and it replace the normal Lan Hua Shou in other opera types. In the picture below, the left hand of the actress uses Pang xie shou.
Important notes for this hand gesture, the index finger and thumb must form a triangle, not a circle or oval. The other 3 fingers must bend backwards, like an arc. Uncle Lim told me if my fingers can't bend backwards, then I will have to bend them everyday until they can form this nice arc. A few examples of how Pangxie shou is used:
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Then we have the other very basic gestures. The following one is called Ti Shou (提手), tuay qiu in quanzhou dialect. The chinese characters are direct translate from the hokkien pronounciation so maybe the characters are wrong but the idea is there la ok.
The above pose is used very often. Examples are, when asking a question, when looking at scenery and even when turning around a corner. It is the next most comment gesture after the Pang Xie Shou. The thumb must touch the index and middle finger while the other 2 just bend naturally like the picture above. When I was taught to do this gesture, Uncle Lim was very particular about the thumb touching the index and middle finger together. I use this hand gesture very often in GZX but of course I did not use the pose above.
There is a male version for the above pose also:
This is actually Uncle Lim... Shhhh.. Can't find this pose in the VCDs so I took one from the VCD of SL. He demonstrates the male version of the pose, tuay qiu. The above picture depicted him looking out of the door.
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Using the hand gesture, Ti shou, there is a walking style called Sui Qiu Kia(hokkien), 垂手走. The hands are by the sides and move from left to right while walking. When walking this kind of Liyuan style, we need to notice that the head, hands and feet must co-ordinate well. Else we will end up in 'same hand same leg', tong shou tong jiao. Also the standard step is only 3 inches. Unless we need to walk very fast, the biggest step is one foot. Other than that, the standard distant for one step is 3 inches. The foot must be able to bend upwards alot when taking a step. I can't do that so I have to bend my feet daily. Now, they are slightly better liao.
Walking styles have Sui qiu kia, Tuay Qiu kia 提手走, Ca Qiu Kia 插手走 and another 2 styles I forgot the names. There is also a style used only by the Qing Yi, ladies role. The left hand will be in the Pang Xie Shou style and placed in front of the chest. The other hand will be at the side, just like the picture below.
Close up of how the pose looks like. while walking, the head must move left right too.
And now, the Sheng version of this walking style. Of course it is not so girlish la....
I kind of like this walking style. It is very Si Wen looking.
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Putting the crab hands in the centre of your chest is called An Xin, 按心. It is used for pointing at oneself. Like the picture below,"Ask me, lin sim, to reveal...." So she used this gesture to point to herself.
Another picture of An Xin.
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Then there is pointing style called Dok Chiok(hokkien), 独触. It simply means pointing infront of you. Dok Chiok is not unique as many opera forms use it. There is another pointing style called Pian Chiok, 偏触, but I can't find a picture of it. It is the same pointing style but pointed to the side instead to the front. It is used to refer to someone not on the stage. For example,"That Lim dua..."
I use Pian Chiok in GZX too as I never see anyone does it in GZX before.
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Expression of sadness, we use Dui sim, 垂心. This posture is done by using clenching the right hand into a fist called, Kiu Bu Qiu, 姜母手, and placing it infront of your chest. Kiu Bu Qiu has some specific rules so it is not the normal clenching fist style.
There is a sheng version too:
For the sheng version, I think they are not using the Kiu Bu Qiu. I am not sure cuz I never learn it before. Hee hee...
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Hun Qiu, 分手, is used when posing a question or expressing bewilderment.
Look at the picture above. She asked herself a question. Note that Hun Qiu is done by Pang Xie Shou.
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Expression of delight and happiness, we can use this Qiu Gang Mo, 向江摩. I know the names are funny la.. Hahaha.. Anyway, this position is done with one leg lifted slightly off the ground. the feet must be bent so that the soles face inside. I can't find a picture of the full body Qiu Gang Mo, so you can just imagine with the pic above. In the pic above, the right leg will be lifted up with the soles facing inside~
There is also Gu Qia Zui, 牛车水. I know it has the same name as Chinatown. This pose involves 2 or 3 people holding hands then step one step forward, then one step backward then 出水. It is also an expression of happiness...
Wah seh.. took me a long time to blog this!..
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