If you want to see a musical performance that combines song, dance and colorful design, just forget about the latest pop video. Take a look at a truly original style of musical performance: Chinese opera. Last month, I was on a trip to Shanghai. I was visiting my Chinese friend Mai-Li. She insisted that we go to Chinese opera, and I have to admit that the experience was amazing from start to finish. Opera in China has a long history. In ancient times, actors performed operas in the streets on temporary stages, lit only by hanging lanterns. It's funny to think that such a great art form started out that way! We arrived at the theater just before the lights went out. As the curtain rose, the actors came on stage in their beautiful costumes; the fiery red colors and ribbons of gold and silver were like a kaleidoscope of colors! The costumes harkened back to the days of street shows, when actors wore bright colors to stand out in the dark. The singing was rather odd - very harsh and shrill. Like the costumes, the style of singing was really ancient. The street performers sang so that their voices would carry to the audience that had gathered to watch. The opera we saw was called "The White Snake Lady"; a classic Chinese folk tale. The white snake turns into a beautiful girl and then falls in love with a man. But the actors didn't only tell the story through songs; the dancing and acrobatics were fantastic too. The actors created a performance not only with their faces, but with their whole bodies to act out the story and show their emotions. These actors have been training very hard in opera schools for years, since about age 7 or 8. There weren't many stage props or sets because the actors use a lot of symbols to help tell the story. For example, an actor doing a somersault with a whip means they are riding a horse. Doing somersaults off a table or pile of chairs means they are running down a mountain. The actors' makeup was incredible. Each color has a special meaning and reveals something about their character; red means loyalty and bravery, black shows a warrior or wild character, blue means cruelty, and gold and silver mean mystery. The finale took my breath away when I saw them all together on stage in their colorful costumes and makeup. I didn't think this opera was for me, but I can't believe how much I enjoyed it. You all must see a Chinese opera someday! составь по этому тексту 7 специальных вопросов и 7 общих вопросов