Cui Keqin recently visited AISG as part of our Annual Fund Speaker Series, captivating students with his remarkable talent and extensive experience in puppet art. As the Artistic Director of the Guangdong Provincial Puppet Art Theater, Cui is a national first-class actor and a recognized inheritor of intangible cultural heritage in China.

With over 40 years in the field, he has made significant contributions to both performance and directing, creating numerous acclaimed puppet programs that have earned him prestigious awards, including the Outstanding Performance Award at the National Puppet and Shadow Show and the Best Actor Award at the Czech International Puppetry Festival.

During his visit, Cui and his puppetry troupe performed twice, first for our Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 3 students and then for Grades 4 and 5. His engaging performances not only entertained the young audience but also introduced them to the art of puppetry, sparking their imaginations and creativity.

The troupe performed a section of the thrilling “Sun Wukong Three Battles with the White Bone Demon,” adapted from the famous Chinese classic Journey to the West, showcasing the dynamic and captivating nature of Chinese puppetry.

Along with the performances, Cui taught our students a brief history of puppetry in China, sharing with us that this ancient art is over 2000 years old! He also showcased different type of puppets, including marionettes, shadow puppets, glove puppets, and rod puppets.

In addition to his performances, his troupe visited some of our classrooms with our students. This hands-on experience allowed the children to ask questions and learn more about the art of puppetry and try them out for themselves! Our students were fascinated and had so much fun figuring out how to make the puppets move around.

Cui Keqin's visit provided students with a unique and engaging educational experience in the rich cultural heritage of Chinese puppetry. Through sharing a comprehensive overview of the history and diverse forms of puppet art, he fostered a deeper appreciation for this traditional craft. His dedication to the art and his role as a cultural ambassador left a lasting impression on the AISG community, inspiring students to explore their own artistic talents and appreciate the beauty of traditional performing arts.

Our Speaker Series brings extraordinary speakers from all over the world to share their expertise with the AISG community. This is made possible by donations to our Annual Fund. Click here to learn more about our Speaker Series.