The classic Chinese dance story The Legend of Dunhuang promises to thrill Australian audiences with colourful pageantry, stunning choreography and an unforgettable tale of honour, love and hope.
Hailed as “The Oriental Swan Lake”, The Legend of Dunhuang is an enthralling blend of Chinese classical dance with other modern dance forms. Famous in China, the ‘thousand hand bodhisattvas’ and ‘backward Pipa playing’ are two of the dance styles in our show. This show also created a new dancing style called ‘dunhuang dancing’, which relives the paintings on the Dunhuang frescoes.
Originally created in 1979, this exquisite production transports the audience to the height of the Silk Road trade with impressive backdrops of breathtaking sceneries, Buddhist art and dazzling costumes.
This piece is more than a story, it is a living history of Dunhuang, a city in northwest China’s Gansu Province and the grottos that have become a UNESCO heritage site. The story follows a wealthy Persian trader lost in a swirling dust storm in the middle of the Gobi Desert, until the beautiful Yingniang and her father Shenbi Zhang, a frescoes painter comes to his rescue……
The Legend of Dunhuang has traveled the globe in the role of cultural ambassador. It has been performed more than 2,800 times to an audience of over 4 million people in the past 39 years. It was reinvigorated in 2008 to celebrate the Beijing Olympics, which is the current version which will tour Australia this year. The show portrays the magnificent cultural splendors of the Tang Dynasty, presenting ancient China to its modern audiences with energy and flair.
Performing group: Gansu DanceTroupe
Established in 1961, Gansu Dance Troupe is widely regarded for upholding the culture of Dunhuang, a city renowned for its natural beauty and historic ties to the Silk Road. They have won numerous national awards and toured nearly 40 countries, making The Legend of Dunhuang, a milestone masterpiece in the history of Chinese dance.
Performances
The Star Gold Coast 28-29 September 2018
Civic Theatre Newcastle
Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC Sydney 5-6 October 2018
Bookings: ticketek.com.au
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