Traditional opera lights up stage in Shandong

Erjiaxian Opera, also known as Liangjiaxian or Dawuyin opera, is a traditional opera popular in western Shandong, eastern and northern Henan, northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In 2008, Erjiaxian Opera was added to the national intangible cultural heritage items list. Four years later, a protection and inheritance center opened in Heze city's Dingtao district in East China's Shandong province to promote innovative development and public-benefit opera performances.

"We have many locals saying that I would still go for Zhanhuaqiang – a masterwork in Erjiaxian Opera – even if I'm selling my houses and food for a living. You can see how much we love Erjiaxian Opera from that saying," said Hou Yanli, inheritor of Erjiaxian Opera in Dingtao county.

Hou has been engaged in inheriting and protecting Erjiaxian Opera for 40 years, and she is also the director of the Dingtao Erjiaxian Opera Protection and Inheritance Center.

Hou guides young performers to practice their basic skills on March 27 in the rehearsal hall of the center. [Photo by Li Bao for chinadaily.com.cn]

As the only professional Erjiaxian Opera troupe in China, the center has created and performed many excellent works that were well-received by audiences and won over 20 national and provincial honors.

Moreover, the center has also set up a cultural service team for rural areas. They have launched over 500 cultural activities and performed for over 700,000 people.

"We'll learn more about people at the grassroots and their cultural needs. Also, we will continue to create more quality works to serve the people and promote our cultural heritage," Hou added. (Edited by Jin Yongxue)