Oriental Legend, a dance drama stage manufacturing, makes its North American premiere in Toronto’s Elgin Theatre on December 12 and 13. After its Toronto run, the present performs from December 18 to twenty on the Canadian Museum of Historical past auditorium in Gatineau, Québec.
Oriental Legend was created by Beijing Dance Drama and Opera Firm, a premiere state-level performing arts group. The manufacturing options a big forged with dance, music, and elaborate costumes, together with projections and immersive lighting. The work is predicated on the true historical past of the storied Silk Highway some 2,000 years in the past.
The manufacturing premiered in 2021 on the inaugural four-month-long Chinese language Tradition Competition (CCF) in Hong Kong. In China, the manufacturing garnered a number of awards, and toured to greater than 110 cities and upwards of 100,000 viewers members throughout the nation, together with 600 million streams on-line. That is the primary time it would hit North American shores, offered by CPAA Productions Ltd.
LV spoke to Qianjia (Shy) Huang, the Secretary Basic of the Canada China Cultural Growth Affiliation, co-organizer of Oriental Legend Canada, and advertising consultant Shan Attaoui to get just a few particulars in regards to the present.
Oriental Legend
The story of Oriental Legend is predicated on the true historical past of the Silk Highway area, and options Feng, who served as a border normal of the Han Dynasty. Jian Te is the son of a chieftain from the north, and Chun Jun is the daughter of the ruler of Jingjue, the traditional metropolis positioned at what’s now often known as Niya.
In 1995, a uncommon fragment of brocade from the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD) was found on the Niya ruins in northwest China within the Taklimakan Desert. The armband was of the sort utilized by archers to guard their arms in historical China. It was embroidered with patterns in blue, white, purple, yellow and inexperienced, and characters that translate as “5 Stars Rise within the East, Benefiting China”, its vibrant colors preserved by the arid desert local weather.
Present in a coffin, it’s proof of the attain of the Han rulers within the far west area of what’s now China. The realm the place it was discovered was a key intersection on the southern route of the Silk Highway, an vital route which introduced Western and Japanese civilizations collectively for the needs of commerce.
Through the Han interval of Chinese language historical past, the area was the positioning of armed struggles between the Han troopers and native populations.
“The entire story is […] a really outdated story, [from] 2,000 years in the past,” says Huang. “It’s just like the brocade which was present in 1995. This 12 months is the thirtieth anniversary.”
“It’s an actual story that was found by archeologists in Western China,” Attaoui provides.
“There are characters, they checked with historical past data from the Han Dynasty.” Shy explains. “There’s a soldier from the Han military, and a guard from an area kingdom on the Silk Highway.”
Unknown to one another at first, the 2 meet as enemies. “They get caught in a very robust state of affairs collectively, and find yourself saving one another’s lives.” After surviving these occasions, their relationship begins to vary. “The respect turns into actual brotherhood.”
The 2 understand that they’re preventing for a similar ideas — defending their homeland, household, and folks. It’s a journey from battle to peace.
“It’s about discovering widespread floor as human beings,” Shy says.
As he particulars, whereas modern-day China is majority Han by way of ethnicity, the individuals who lived and traded alongside the Silk Highway had been really fairly numerous.
“China is an unlimited nation,” Shan provides. She notes that the languages spoken are fairly totally different, even in writing, from East to West. “There isn’t a such idea of China as a rustic.”
As she factors out, thematically, the story might be taken as one about immigration, an idea that echoes to the current day. “We share place and reside collectively peacefully.”
Oriental Legend: Dance Drama
The manufacturing options Han-Tang classical dance, together with the Lantern Dance that was endemic to the Western Areas.
Shy explains, “It’s all about classical Chinese language dance, which is completely totally different than Western classical dance, or ballet. It’s recognized for being tremendous sleek.”
He notes that it’s characterised by management, and a gradual tempo. “Their actions are actually totally different.” Lengthy actions create shapes within the air.
“The well-known dance from this present might be the Lantern dance.”
The Lantern dance is carried out by girls who every maintain a glowing lantern, creating patterns and shapes as they transfer. “It’s like watching a […] flowing river of sunshine. It’s made to indicate a way of festivity,” he provides.
“Individuals find it irresistible as a result of it’s each technically spectacular and in addition stunning to look at.”
It’s a dance that’s related to festivals, and was featured on nationwide broadcaster China Central Tv for the 2023 Spring Gala to thousands and thousands of viewers.
“It’s the equal of the Chinese language New 12 months gala, you’ll be able to take a look at this as our Tremendous Bowl,” Attaoui explains.
The Canadian Exhibits
“The stage on the Elgin Theatre will current an enormous and attention-grabbing problem,” Shy says.
Arrange for the manufacturing will take two full days. “The present makes use of an enormous quantity of excessive tech stage tools,” he explains. “Essentially the most eye catching elements is the massive LED display. It fills up the again of the stage.”
The LED display will flesh out the background with scenes of the desert, the traditional cities, even the starry skies above the Silk Highway 2,000 years in the past.
“There’s a kingdom, there are totally different cities,” he explains.
“It’s very immersive,” Shan provides. “They’ve many clever stage lights.” The theatre’s personal lighting system will likely be augmented by others the manufacturing will lease. “These lights are fastidiously programmed to create particular moods.” That features cityscapes, motion, and romantic scenes. “These lights act along with the display.”
The sound system will likely be examined be certain that it initiatives to each nook of the theatre.
“I can’t wait to see it,” she provides. “It’s the primary time to go to a different nation.”
Shy notes that it comes at a time when Chinese language-Canadian relations are starting to thaw.
The music was created by the Beijing Dance & Drama Theatre, a part of the Beijing Arts Firm. “They’re attempting to mix the classical singing and pop singing,” Shan provides. Some elements will likely be fairly fashionable in flavour.
“I’m actually excited to see it,” Shy says.
- Discover particulars and tickets for the Toronto and Gatineau exhibits [HERE].
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Anya Wassenberg is the Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. Beforehand, she was a contract author with a specialty in tradition and journey for 3 many years, and a inventive writing teacher for Ontariolearn.
