Traditional Chinese dancers arrived in Sydney on Tuesday to prepare for the first ever Dunhuang performance in the country. The historic tour will run in three Australian cities during September and October.
Inspired by the famous Dunhuang cave artworks located on the ancient silk road, the dramatic Dunhuang dance "Flower Rains along the Silk Road" describes the story of a painter and his daughter who risk their lives to save a foreign merchant.
The show praises the friendship between China and other countries and presents the cave art in a colourful and spectacular manner. Various gestures in the Dunhuang frescoes will be staged including the thousand-hand bodhisattva and the playing pipa on the back.
Dancers perform a scene of thousand-hand bodhisattva from 'Silk Road' at the dress rehearsal before opening night of their New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center on February 27, 2013 in New York City. /Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images/VCG Photo
Dancers perform a scene of thousand-hand bodhisattva from 'Silk Road' at the dress rehearsal before opening night of their New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center on February 27, 2013 in New York City. /Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images/VCG Photo
Dancers perform a scene of playing pipa on the back from 'Silk Road' at the dress rehearsal before opening night of their New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center on February 27, 2013 in New York City. /Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images/VCG Photo
Dancers perform a scene of playing pipa on the back from 'Silk Road' at the dress rehearsal before opening night of their New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center on February 27, 2013 in New York City. /Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images/VCG Photo
First staged in 1979, the Silk Road dance drama has been performed across the world more than 2,800 times in over 40 countries. In 2013, the dance drama performance made its New York debut at Lincoln Center, enthralling the audience with dazzling costumes and stunning choreography.
Its director Lu Jinlong, also the president of the Gansu Dance Theater, believes that this dance drama merges numerous elements from Dunhuang frescoes, Chinese classic dance and western modern dance to create a new category of dance called "Dunhuang Dance".
It has been recognized as "a milestone in the history of Chinese dance drama," deputy director of the China Arts and Entertainment Group Lu Wang told Xinhua.
Dancers perform a scene from 'Silk Road' at the dress rehearsal before opening night of their New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center on February 27, 2013 in New York City. /Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images/VCG Photo
Dancers perform a scene from 'Silk Road' at the dress rehearsal before opening night of their New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center on February 27, 2013 in New York City. /Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images/VCG Photo
Dancers perform a scene from 'Silk Road' at the dress rehearsal before opening night of their New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center on February 27, 2013 in New York City. /Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images/VCG Photo
Dancers perform a scene from 'Silk Road' at the dress rehearsal before opening night of their New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center on February 27, 2013 in New York City. /Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images/VCG Photo
"The reason for its long-lasting success is, firstly, the story is interesting and has a coherent narrative; and secondly, we are continuously updating the show, the content, technique, and costumes to catch up with the development of society and attract younger audience."
The show will be performed in Newcastle, the Gold Coast and Sydney. Lu said the most distinctive feature of the show is that it illustrates the beauty of lines.
"We are very happy to play the show in Sydney because Dunhuang is a symbol of multiculturalism and inclusiveness, which exactly matches the social value of Sydney," she said.
(With input from Xinhua)
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