As cultures crossed in the Forker gymnasium, the mood shifted from awe to inspiration when dancers from the Tianjin Conservatory of Music in China demonstrated their unique abilities on Wednesday.

The demonstration, which was open to the public during the Dance Appreciation 270 class, included 24 women, all between the ages of 19 and 21, from the conservatory in Iowa’s sister state in China, Hebei. The group consisted of dancers and musicians, as well as a teacher and two instructors.

The lecture demonstration began when Janice Baker, assistant professor of kinesiology, asked Sun Jia Yi, the deputy director of the Tianjin Conservatory, questions about specifics of the dance and music group. The questioning was followed by the first dance demonstration by 11 women of the dance group. The demonstration combined quick yet graceful gestures similar to that of ballet, mixed with a subtle taste of hip-hop.

After the dance, the class was summoned to the gymnasium floor to learn three different moves that characterized parts of the dance. Several women from the dance group instructed the crowd on the way to hold their hands and move their feet to successfully imitate the complex dance. Hesitant at first, the class was soon immersed in the short lesson, moving in unison to try the dance themselves.A second dance was performed shortly after by more members of the dance group. The dance was meant to portray the difference cultures of China with its varying beats and moves.

At the conclusion of the lecture, Baker insisted on sending the dancers back to China with a taste of American culture. Laughter swelled in the gymnasium as Baker and the Dance 270 students demonstrated such moves as “two-step,” “walk it out,” and “lean with it, rock with it.”

The dance group arrived in the United States late Tuesday night. It was the women’s’ first time being in the United States, said Wang Kun, director of the dance division. He said for that reason, the group was very excited.

“The dance is something we all have in common,” Kun said. Despite the language barrier, “we can all communicate through the dance.”

The students were enthusiastic in both watching and trying the dances for themselves.

“They had fun moves, and you could tell they enjoy what they do,” said Tiffany Beardsley, junior in pre-journalism and mass communication.

The dance moves featured moves that represented 56 minority groups of China.

“It wasn’t what I expected – but in a good way,” Beardsley said.

In the past the dancing group has traveled to different countries in Europe. After their departure from Iowa State, they will travel to University of Iowa and Drake University before they travel back to China on Monday.

The Iowa Sister States co-hosted the dancers with the Chinese Association of Iowa, said Kim Johnson, deputy director for Iowa Sister States.

In addition to the dancers, the Iowa Sister States has hosted other performing groups as well as professional groups, such as government officials.