Oliver Nie, Photo: Rodney Atienza  Oliver Nie  Oliver Nie
started dancing when he was four or five years old, chosen to
learn dance because of his good grades, moral character, and
talent. When he was just 15, he was one of only five students in
a city of two million accepted by the Art Institute of Hunan
Teachers' College. A classical dance major, Mr. Nie studied
Chinese opera, Chinese music (vocal and instrumental), folk
dance, Western ballet, drama, make-up, costume design and
construction, set design and construction, and basic kung fu.
When the Provincial Ensemble traveled to Beijing for the 10th
anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China,
Mr. Nie was one of four students from his department chosen for
this trip. From there, he was sent on a national tour and
traveled throughout the country for nearly a year performing in
every major city in China.  At each stop of the tour, the troupe
conducted dance workshops, teaching what they knew and learning
the regional dances. Mr. Nie, who was