The Moon We Share: A Journey through Poetry and Dance!

For centuries, the Mid-Autumn Festival has been a time for family and friends to gather under the full moon and share poetry, stories, and food. This ancient festival is about reflection, togetherness, and the passing on of tradition. In the same way, Bangor’s 1500-year history reminds us of the deep connections between past and present, and of how communities endure across generations.

One of the most beloved Mid-Autumn poems is Prelude to Water Melody by Su Shi, written more than nine hundred years ago on a Mid-Autumn night. In it, Su Shi reflects on distance, longing, and connection. The same moon that shone on Su Shi in the 11th century shines on us today, just as it once shone on the earliest communities in Bangor’s long history. Across oceans, centuries, and cultures, the moon links our lives, our memories, and our hopes.

This workshop brings Su Shi’s vision to life through dance and embodied practice. By moving together, we will discover how poetry can be experienced not only with words but also through the body; how rhythm, breath, and gesture can help us feel part of a larger unity—where East meets West, and Bangor’s past meets the present.

No previous dance experience is needed—only curiosity and the wish to explore and connect.

Programme:

• 6:30pm – Dance Workshop: The Moon We Share
  • 15 minutes – Introduction to Su Shi’s poetry & dance demonstration
  • 30 minutes – Movement experience: learning a simple routine
  • 15 minutes – Creative movement exploration
• 7:30pm – Chinese Culture Workshops
  Immerse yourself in the traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival through hands-on cultural activities.

Join us as we celebrate 1500 years of Bangor under the same moon!