Uniting stories of Silk Road through dance

: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China Daily, June 3, 2021

The Great Unity is inspired by the rich cultural heritage of Shanxi province. The dance drama was staged in Beijing in May as a tribute to the centennial of the founding of the Communist Party of China. [Photo by Liu Tong/China Daily]

To illustrate the history of the Silk Road, the dance draws inspiration from Shanxi's historical heritage and figures, including the awe-inspiring Yungang Grottoes in Datong, the monk Faxian who traveled to more than 30 countries collecting Buddhist scriptures, and Shanxi merchants who promoted transnational trade and cultural exchange in the 19th century.

Li says the production is a combination of dance drama and poetry. Instead of dealing with a linear storyline, the audience is presented with varied scenes or events from different times and spaces, and these scenes are connected like verses of a poem.