Zhengzhou Energy 丨郑州退休老人自组“豫剧团”10年义演800多场
Attracting many opera fans, this is a folk art group initiated by two elderly people in Zhengzhou.
这是一支由郑州两位老人发起，众多戏迷参与的民间老年艺术团。
Charity shows of the “grass roots” Yu Opera troupe
Over the past 10 years, no matter rain or shine, more than 50 plus people with an average age of 65 will perform Yu opera in the multi-function hall of Zhengzhou Tianxiacheng community without any obstacles on every Tuesday and Friday morning. When on holidays, the troupe would go to squares, factories, and nursing homes for benefit performances. Playing rhythmically and flawlessly, the troupe has performed more than 800 performances at various sites.
10年间，每逢周二、周五上午，50多位平均年龄在65岁的老人，都会风雨无阻地在郑州天下城社区多功能厅为居民边进行豫剧排练边演出，节假日又到各广场、工厂、养老院进行义演，乐队有板有眼，演唱惟妙惟肖，已经在各种场地累计义务演出了800余场。
show in Sichuan
The youngest member in the art troupe is 48, while the oldest is 76, and the average age is 65. In the past 10 years, regardless of high age and out of the commitment and love for Yu opera, as well as for the inheritance and spread of this intangible cultural heritage, the art troupe even raised funds by themselves and went to Taipei, Sanya, Shihezi, Chengdu, Xi 'an and Beijing for free performance in addition to performing in local communities, factories, nursing homes, squares and other places.
艺术团成员中年龄最小的48岁，年龄最大的76岁，平均年龄65岁。10年来，团员们不顾年事已高，出于对豫剧的那份执着和热爱，并为了推动豫剧这份非物质文化遗产得以传承和弘扬，艺术团除了在当地社区、工厂、养老院、城市广场等场所义演，还自筹资金远赴台北市、三亚市、石河子市、成都市、西安市和北京等多地无偿演出。
The audience who have seen the performance are not only experience the unique charm of Yu opera, but also be affected by the positive, optimistic and self-improvement spirit of the members of the art troupe. Especially in the Taipei show, many of the audiences’ root is Henan, and after having leaved Henan for decades ,they heard the original Yu opera again, so everyone was moved to shed tears. After the performance for a long time, the audiences also don't want to leave.
看过演出的广大观众不仅感受到豫剧特有的魅力，也被艺术团团员们积极乐观、自强不息的精神面貌所感染。特别是在台北的演出，到场观众很多都是祖籍河南的，离乡背井几十年又听到原汁原味的家乡戏，大家感动得流下了热泪，演出结束后还久久不愿离场。
Song Yuhua said “ when looking back for the past 10 years, it is really not an easy time for the troupe which can not remain without the concerted efforts of the members and the silent support of the members’ children. Song Yuhua and her husband are amateur of Yu Opera. Seeing that many of the old people around them feel blue after retirement, Ms. Song wanted to organize a Yu Opera for the old. Therefore, the old couple took out their savings and the filial money, purchased costumes, props, sound equipment and other equipment for performance, and established their own Yu opera troupe.
“我们这支民间艺术团能够走过10年光阴，着实不易，其中离不开团员们的齐心协力，更离不开子女们在背后默默地支持。”团长宋玉华说，她和老伴余海本来就是豫剧票友，看到周围很多老人退休后失落感很重，就想通过组建一个豫剧团让老人排练节目、登台演出，老有所乐。于是，老两口拿出多年来的积蓄和儿女们的孝顺钱，购置演出服装、道具、音响等设备，创建了自己的豫剧团。
On the one side, this art troupe not only helps the old people feel happy and live a long and healthy life, and on the other side, we are also filial to our parents and the old people under the influence of Yu opera. Yu li, song's eldest daughter, said it was a good thing with many benefits. " For these lovely old people, what we should do now is to work hard, and we also hope to provide more support in the future to carry on the spirit of the troupe and help the old people enjoy their later life qualitatively.
“有了这支艺术团，不仅有助于老人们心情愉悦、健康长寿，我们作为子女的也孝顺父母、孝敬老人了，而且更加传承了豫剧文化。”宋玉华的大女儿余丽表示，这是个一举多得的好事。“我们现在要做的就是好好工作，为了这些可爱的老人们我们也必须努力，希望今后能够提供更多支持，将艺术团的精神传承下去，帮助老人们更加有质量地幸福快乐地度过晚年生活。”
