On August 5, the 13th China Dance Lotus Award for Dance Drama winners were announced. The dance drama Absolute Test, performed by the Chongqing Song and Dance Troupe, is the only award-winning drama in Western China and one of the four award-winning dramas nationwide. This is the second time Chongqing has won such recognition after seven years.

Stage photo of Dance Drama "Absolute Test." (Photo/Chongqing Song and Dance Troupe)

"There are no minor characters in our drama. All characters are vibrant and deserve the dedication of performers," said director Ding Wei. All performers were fully engaged during the performance, turning their arduous efforts into silent body language. They passionately portrayed their characters, presenting them with full energy and the best dance performance. It is a tribute to the martyrs and the revolutionaries' spirit at the Red Crag. With all departments fulfilling their respective roles and working closely together, including stage design, music, lighting, costume, makeup, and props, a performance that embodies youthfulness,  fashion, and Chongqing characteristics was created, presenting the audience with a feast of art that integrates dance and aesthetics.

Since its conception in 2020, the dance drama Absolute Test has undergone a series of tests. It combines performing arts in various forms with the stage design featuring Chongqing's unique regional elements, inspiring young audiences with the everlasting spirit of the revolutionaries at the Red Crag in an entirely new way. It has received wide acclaim from industry experts, audiences, and netizens.

In preparation for the China Dance Lotus Award, the Chongqing Song and Dance Troupe invited director Ding Wei and his team to Chongqing in early 2023. They revised and refined the dance drama Absolute Test, upgrading it to the 2023 version. According to Gou Xiaoyan, Secretary of the General Party Branch, Executive Director, and General Manager of the Chongqing Song and Dance Troupe, the 2023 version reorganizes the protagonist Ping's deeds throughout her life. It showcases the complex life experience of the characters and their fates and emotional changes in a more ingenious way. Additionally, it relates the conflicts to the progress of the era, enhancing the tension of the story. While retaining the integrity of the narrative, there is an increased emphasis on the "performability" of the dance drama. Several dance segments have undergone alterations in formations, dance movements, or the number of supporting actors in transitional scenes. With its lyricism, typical imagery, and emotional connotations, the drama renders a fresh experience to the audience.

It is worth mentioning that the first dance segment in the second half of the drama, Three Hundred Steps, features instrumental music of Sichuan opera and the projection of dance movements, skillfully integrating dance silhouettes, the veil curtain backdrop, and the percussion of Sichuan opera. Through the interplay of light and shadow, the pulsating rhythms of the music, and the dynamic choreography, it vividly portrays the intense confrontation between the protagonist and the antagonist, as well as the protagonist's resolution to pursue the path of light, evoking the emotional resonance in the audience.