Gift of love
In Chinese literature, there is a well-known story of a 16-year-old girl who dies for love and comes back to life for love. This story called Peony Pavilion has been performed on the stage of the Kunqu Opera (traditional Chinese opera from East China's Jiangsu Province) for centuries, but now woman choreographer Wang Yuanyuan will reinterpret the story in modern dance as a gift to today's lovers.
The old story from Peony Pavilion is reinterpreted into a modern dance. Jiang Dong |
Wang's modern dance drama Interrupted Dream New Peony Pavilion debuted yesterday, Valentine's Day, at the newly-completed 150-seat Beiqing Yingzhibao Theater, in Wangjing.
Having played executive director for Zhang Yimou's ballet Raise the Red Lantern and choreographer for Feng Xiaogang's film The Banquet, Wang will now present a work of her own. She is the co-scripter, choreographer and prima donna of the play.
"I was amazed and moved by the story of Du Liniang, who could die and resurrect only for love," said Wang. "That's why I chose this story for my work."
Written by playwright Tang Xianzu (1550-1616), Peony Pavilion has been adapted into many art forms, but Wang and her colleagues guarantee that their version will be a different one.
For the music of Interrupted Dream New Peony Pavilion, composer Du Wei has adapted a great variety of styles to create enough dramatic conflicts. Electro-acoustic music and Kunqu Opera are two of the elements, which contrast each other and bring much tension to the work. Multi-media aspects will also be included.
(China Daily 02/15/2007 page18)
