The "Thousand-armed-Thousand-eyed" drama show which has been staged in Dunhuang City, northwest China's Gansu Province from June to October, has provided a platform for the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troup to display their talents.
The "Thousand-armed-Thousand-eyed" drama show is staged in Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. /CMG
Inspired by an ancient mural in the Mogao Caves, the combination of choreography and artistic stage design demonstrates the rich history and culture of the renowned city of Dunhuang situated along the ancient Silk Road.
A group of disabled dancers perform under professional guidance in Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. /CMG
Located southeast of the Dunhuang oasis, the Mogao Caves is home to vast numbers of Buddhist art treasures, from grottoes and sculptures to murals, spanning a period of around a thousand years. It's one of the most famous ancient Buddhist cultural sites in China, a place of pilgrimage and worship, and a popular tourist attraction. The Mogao Caves was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.
The "Thousand-armed-Thousand-eyed" drama show is staged in Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. /CMG
Fifty disabled dancers, singers and musicians worked together to stage a folk tale using music, dance, multimedia and other mediums telling the story of a brave girl who endured hardship through courage, perseverance and wisdom to save her ailing father and neighbors. The troupe earned enthusiastic applause from the audience thanks to their series of excellent performances at the theater.
Protagonist Wang Yimei, a deaf-mute dancer with the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troup, said her biggest challenge was combining dance and drama while maintaining perfect time. Wang dedicated much time and effort to practising with her team to achieve excellence in this regard.
A classic folk story is staged by a group of disabled artists from the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troup, in Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. /CMG
Tai Lihua, the leader of the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troup, said cultural confidence was the most fundamental and strongest force in the development of a country and a nation. Their troupe feels thrilled to have been given the opportunity to create a show which combines the culture of Dunhuang and artistic performance.
The drama has been performed in Dunhuang around 100 times and will go on a city tour in China.