SHANGHAI, May 12 (Xinhua) -- After the five-day International Labor Day holiday, ear-pleasing music rang out again in the dance studio of Shanghai New York University (NYU Shanghai).
"Everybody together!" said the teacher signaling four students in traditional Tibetan costumes to dance to the music. On a large television, three other students also started to tap their feet, joining the dance across the screen.
This was NYU Shanghai's third live Folk Dance class this semester.
Having reopened on April 27, NYU Shanghai has welcomed its students and staff members back to the campus. More than half of the students who enrolled in the Folk Dance class have returned to the dance studio after over two months of online courses.
"It's great to be back in the classroom!" said Li Jialin, a student who returned last Tuesday, adding that she had always been expecting school reopening during the prolonged winter vacation.
Tao Siye, Assistant Arts Professor of Dance and tutor of the class, said that since many students and teachers still remain at home, NYU Shanghai now applies "mixed mode" teaching, with classes taught both online and in class.
During the class, Tao demonstrated movements repeatedly. "I have to show every movement from different angles to ensure students studying online could also grasp every detail," she said.
On the same day, the first instrumental ensemble of the Jazz class also took place in the auditorium on campus.
Though having parted for more than three months, the students still played in harmony, and the sounds of various instruments such as piano, violin and flute merged into a beautiful melody.
Murray James Morrison, Clinical Assistant Professor of Arts and tutor of the Jazz class, said that nine students enrolled in this course but only five have returned to the campus.
To make sure that all students can be involved in the course, he has arranged a basic rhythm and designed different parts for each student. In the following courses, students online and offline will play their own part, and Morrison will combine the parts into a complete song.
"Me and the students here today really do miss the students who can't be here," he said.
However, Morrison was still glad about the school reopening. "From our perspective, it seems like things are being done very well. People are safe. My understanding of this situation in Shanghai is that it's under control." Enditem
