No, the swords are not real. And no, no one has been hurt . . . yet.
“People wonder, but the swords only look dangerous,” said sword dancer and choreographer Sarah Lin. “We’ve had a few scrapes, but if you actually stab someone, the tip will bend.”
Lin and co-choreographer Jen Enders will debut traditional Chinese sword dancing this weekend at the Lunar New Year Festival at Edison Theatre on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. An annual celebration of Asian culture, this year’s event will feature fan dancing from China, tinikling from the Philippines, drumming from Korea and other acts. Proceeds will benefit Gateway 180, which assists homeless families in St. Louis.
Lin, a junior in mathematics in Arts & Sciences, and Enders, who will graduate this spring with degrees in business and biomedical engineering, are excited about introducing audiences to sword dancing’s mix of grace and power. First performed by Chinese soldiers, the genre is now performed by men and women. In keeping with this year’s theme, “Journey Home,” their dance tells the story of a young woman who uses her sword to battle both inner and outer demons.
“It’s all about the strength in women,” Lin said. “Most people associate swords with men and martial arts, but we use the swords to create something that is elegant and exciting.”