China’s Gansu Opera House will recreate the routes that linked the dragon country to regional neighbours through dance, martial arts and music. Artistic director Peng Deming tells Riya Sharma that the troupe will be using traditional instruments like Pipa and Guzheng in the performance
With the increase in popular culture, has the appeal of traditional Chinese opera gone downIJ
Chinese Opera is about artistic drama, rich heritage and cultural essence. Our programme Charm of Dunhuang was developed in 2004 after three years of tireless effort by artistes of our opera house. We have delivered more than 180 performances in Guangdong Province and 100 shows in Dunhuang City of China. Ever since, the dance has been performed successively in Kazakhstan, Syria, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Nepal, Malaysia and Macau in name of the Ministry of Culture of China.
Tell us more about this dance formIJ Is it only limited to traditions of China or inspired by the fusion of other cultures.
This story is inspired by the ancient silk roads that linked China with many countries reaching right to the Mediterranean Sea. A key location on those silk roads was at Dunhuang in China. Another source of inspiration for the performance are the murals in the caves of Dunhuang. Both the silk roads and the murals embrace deep symbolism of Chinese history and culture. It has thrilled audience around the world with more than 2,600 performances.
The Gansu opera draws inspiration from ancient silk roads that linked China with other countries in former times. How do they bring it together in a dance formIJ
We have set the stage design with charming snapshots of ancient China on folk music with distinct characteristics to engage the audience. We shall be using a lot of traditional instruments such as Pipa and Guzheng for our performances. Also our costumes/draperies are exquisite and adds to the representation of the rich Asian-Chinese culture. It is a visual delight and one has to see it for understanding the artistic expressions involved.
How is traditional Chinese opera different from European operasIJ
Operas are artistic dramas with few characteristics that distinguish them from the other. The Gansu Provincial Opera House has performed in the West and have always have been loved and appreciated for the draperies of different dynasties with folk music of rich content and traditional Asian Chinese instruments. So, the presenting method of Chinese Dance in comparison with Western dances like ballet are very different.
Will the performance only involve dance or the Indian audience will also get to see the pinch of martial arts and aerobicsIJ Does the Chinese opera also involve these twoIJ
The programme designed for Indian audiences is very rich. One of our performances is called the Thousand Hand Bodhisattva Guanyin is inspired by Buddhism culture, originated in India and widely practised in Asian-Chinese culture. Our other performances shall include the Playing of Pipa, Covered-cup Tea, Magical Crescent-moon Spring and Chinese Wushu — Martial Arts et al. We shall also showcase sword dance, which should be very interesting for the audiences.
Is there any striking feature of the dance form that is similar to any of the Indian dance formsIJ
While presenting the cream of classical Chinese dance and music, this show also draws influences from ballet dance, Western music, as well as dancing techniques in Indian and Central Asia. It features original artistic design with a surprise element specially added for the Indian audiences.
The show is organised at FICCI KK Birla Auditorium today