The only Chinese Opera Summer Camp in North America 北美唯一戏曲夏令营

The Canada Chinese Opera Arts Center's signature program, the "Little Pear Garden Summer Camp," is an intensive, short-term, full-day summer training camp designed to systematically strengthen the foundational skills of Chinese opera in Canadian youth. It is the only full-day Chinese opera training program of its kind in North America.
The camp runs daily from morning until evening for about two weeks and is led by Zhang Yanyan, a former performer with the China National Peking Opera Company and the association’s president. Modeled after traditional Chinese opera school training, the program rigorously adheres to professional standards, providing structured and in-depth instruction in the foundational "Four Skills and Five Techniques" of Chinese opera performance and artistic aesthetics.
The "Little Pear Garden Summer Camp" takes place annually in July, with the inaugural session in 2022. Now in its third year, the 2024 camp is scheduled to begin soon.
In past camps, over ten young students have participated, ranging in age from 7 to 13. They are long-term students of the Canada Chinese Opera Arts Center, each with a foundation in opera performance, having studied for 1 to 7 years.
Given the rare opportunity for full-time opera training, last year’s camp focused on the fundamental "martial arts" skills in Peking Opera, a component less covered in weekly classes due to time and facility limitations. This area of study emphasizes "fighting" within the "Four Skills" of singing, recitation, movement, and combat. Topics typically restricted by weekly class hours or small group sizes were fully explored in the intensive camp, serving as a valuable supplement to students' usual fragmented learning schedule.
The intensified training led to remarkable progress in students' skills. Their foundational techniques were solidified, and more advanced skills were systematically introduced and practiced. In addition to reviewing core techniques such as stances, stage movement, vocal exercises, and prop handling (e.g., water sleeves, folding fans), students dedicated time to mastering complex combat sequences. This included spear and staff spinning, two-person combat routines, and formal stage exits. They also learned higher-level techniques such as the standing flip, squat flip, kite flip, flat spin, side somersault, and the "lying fish" leap. During makeup lessons, students even learned to do their own head wrapping and makeup application for the first time.
Starting with morning warm-ups at 8 or 9 a.m., students participated in singing, recitation, movement, opera scenes, and makeup classes-all covered comprehensively from morning to evening over the intensive two-week schedule. Though challenging, the packed schedule was highly fulfilling. Both teachers and students eagerly anticipate more opportunities for such in-depth training.
The old opera adage, "Summer training is the most intense," proves true in this busy, joyful, and camaraderie-filled summer camp. The young students of the Canada Chinese Opera Arts Center spent a memorable and enriching summer, gaining invaluable skills and unforgettable experiences.
加拿大中国戏曲艺术协会的品牌活动“小梨园夏令营” 是一个以系统、全面、集中强化训练加拿大少年儿童的戏曲基本功为目的的暑期短期全日制集训班。这是北美唯一的全日制戏曲集训品牌项目。
训练时间为每天早晨到傍晚全日，为期两周左右，由原中国国家京剧院演员、协会会长张燕燕老师主授课，模拟戏曲学校教学模式，按专业科班标准和传统，科学、规范、深入地培养小学员们的“四功五法”基础技艺和艺术审美。
“小梨园夏令营” 每年夏天七月举办，自2022年始举办首届，至今举办两届，2024年的第三届夏令营也即将提上日程。
往期夏令营共有十余名小学员参加，他们均为加拿大中国戏曲艺术协会的长期学生，他们最小的7岁、最大的13岁，已在戏协学习了1年至7年时间，均具备一定的戏曲表演基础。
由于孩子们难得有全日制学习戏曲课程的机会，去年夏令营集训的重点放在了平时周课由于条件限制而较少涉及的“武场”基本功内容，即，戏曲基础四功“唱念做打”中的“打”。一些平时因为训练时间不足或同学人数不够而不能开展的课题在全日制的集训中终于展开，这是对于学员日常每周一课时这种碎片化学习的针对性补充和强化。
量变带来质变，夏令营结业后，小学员们都有了非常显著的进步。他们的基本功包括得到了巩固，同时，一些较高难度的技巧也得到了系统地规范、学习与延伸。除了复习和巩固身段基本功基本功、台步、喊嗓子吊嗓子、以及水袖折扇等基础道具外，小学员们用大量时间学习和练习了武戏把子功（枪）的各式枪花、单枪对打、小五套、程式下场花等，也学习并规范了一些较高难度的技巧如站翻身、蹲翻身、鹞子翻身、平转、侧空翻、跳卧鱼等。化妆课上，小朋友们也第一次自己给自己勒头和化妆。
从早晨八九点钟的早功开始，唱念、形把、学戏、化妆，一件不落，从早到晚，两周的课表非常辛苦忙碌，干货满满。尽管如此，老师和同学们尤嫌不足，都十分期待这样训练的机会能更多一些。
梨园行“夏练三伏”，夏天是训练的好时期，在这充实忙碌又欢乐友爱的集训过程中，加拿大中国戏曲艺术协会的小学员们也恋恋不舍度过了一段快乐充实的暑假时光。
website: ccoac.com/boot...