The dance drama “Ibis,” which visualizes the natural movements of the ibis, which was thought to be extinct in China, was performed last May at the Shaanxi Opera House in Xi’an.[Photo/Xinhua]
XI’AN — An avid theater fan, Liu Han has watched as many as 10 dance plays with various themes in the past year, and has been emotionally and spiritually satisfied.
“These dramas not only captivate audiences, but also introduce an innovative way of merging culture and art across time and space for ordinary people like me,” he said, referring to the city’s Shaanxi Opera House. says a 32-year-old theater enthusiast who frequently visits the theater. Xi’an city in northwestern China.
Chinese dance dramas are highly regarded by young people for their diverse themes, which range from nature and human relationships, iconic literary figures and historical fiction, to Eastern and Western artistic practices.
According to a report by the China Performing Arts Association, the main consumer group for the performing arts market in 2022 was 18 to 34 years old, accounting for more than 76 percent of the audience.
For example, dance drama TokiNamed after a species of bird with a red crest and a long black beak, the name refers to how people strived to maintain a harmonious coexistence with nature during the process of urbanization and industrialization. It tells a story.
The ibis was thought to be extinct in China until 1981, when seven wild birds were discovered in Yangxian County, Shaanxi Province. After more than 40 years of conservation work, there are now over 10,000 birds in the world.
The drama visualizes the natural movements of species and illustrates the common environmental crisis facing the entire world through vivid performing arts.
“This work is a true masterpiece, with its exquisite combination of Chinese folk dance and Western ballet,” said Dai Ping, a professor at Shanghai Drama Academy.
According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, approximately 342,000 commercial performances were staged in China in the first three quarters of 2023, attracting more than 110 million spectators, and 121 each compared to the same period in 2019. %, increased by 188.5%.
Ryu said that the most impressive drama he watched in 2023 was “Poetic Dance: Dongpo,” which he believes is a good example of cultural fusion. This performance depicts the life of Su Shi, a poet and cultural icon of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), through his 15 most famous poems.
Shen Wei, who directed the poetic dance, said, “I once asked my French friends what they thought of this drama. “He said that it can be transmitted through people.”
In recent years, several Chinese dance dramas, including “Confucius” and “Mulan,” have been active on the international stage in the United States, Mexico, and many other countries.
“Art has no boundaries. I hope that audiences from various cultural backgrounds can feel the common human pursuits through dance drama,” says Shen.
Xinhua News Agency