Culture - Chinese embassy donates dance mats |26 February 2022
The Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts has received a set of dance mats from the Chinese embassy.
It was the Chinese ambassador to Seychelles, Guo Wei, who donated the seven mats to the secretary general of the Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts, David André, in a short ceremony held at the International Conference Centre (ICCS) yesterday morning.
This was in the presence of the principal secretary for culture, Cecile Kalebi and staff of the institute.
The dance mats measuring 1.8 metres wide and 20 metres long will be used by young dancers in their training and performance programmes.
Some of the mats have already been laid on the stage at the conference centre while the others will be used at other dance training centres under the institute.
Mr Andre said the donation shows China’s continued engagement in helping to valorise our culture, heritage and the arts including bringing artistic education to our children.
He noted that it is not talents that the country is lacking with regard to culture, heritage and the arts but resources for further development.
He added that such donation from generous partners helps to contribute towards the advancement of the above, thanking Ambassador Guo for the donation.
Ambassador Guo said that the mats came as a result of the excellent cooperation between the embassy, the Creative Industries and National Events Agency (Cinea) and the Mayor’s office, especially in the organisation of the Seychelles China Day, where China’s top cultural groups and top dancers do participate to the appreciation of the Seychellois public.
Ambassador Guo stated that it was in 2019 during a performance by a Chinese cultural group at ICCS that she noticed the need for dance mats for the centre. She said the mats will add to enhancing protection and will help the children to better practice their discipline.
The accompanying photographs show some highlights of the handover ceremony.
Patrick Joubert
Photos by Joena Meme