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My Peony Pavilion to Dance on Stage

A sequel to a sad but beautiful love story adapted from the traditional Chinese Kunqu opera Peony Pavilion that was performed at the Beijing Bayi Theatre on December 15 will be performed by students and teachers of the Beijing Dance Academy in mid to late January in Beijing.

The time and place were not available at press time, but may be obtained by calling +86 13801356069 early in January 2007.

The public performance of this famous Chinese play will take place because of the excellent reception in December of the semi-private performance of this interpretation of this old legend by this troupe of young performers. They have imbued the tale with their own concepts of language and thought.

My Peony Pavilion selects eight of the 55 sections of Chinese dramatist Tang Xianzu’s Peony Pavilion, first performed during the Ming Dynasty. But this performance is unusual, because it develops the romantic and fascinating story between the heroine Du Liniang and hero Liu Mengmei through a modern girl’s thought and feelings, as real life and fantasy intertwine. The young troupe attempts to use dance, the most simple but naturally expressive language of human beings, to reveal their understanding of tradition and realism, succession and development, art and matters of the heart. The young troupe gives the performance their all, because their purpose is as simple as their pursuit of art. There are no featured superstars, no famed celebrities and no particular motivations beyond the passion for art and imaginations of the youthful performers on stage.