The New Version of Dance Drama Du Fu to Embark on its 2023 Second National Tour

Chongqing - On the illustrious evenings of October 6 and 7, the refreshed version of the dance drama Du Fu graced the stage at the 2023 Chongqing Grand Theater International Culture and Art Festival, as well as the 14th Anniversary Performance Season, enchanting audiences with a transcendent journey through poetic epochs. This dazzling spectacle heralded the commencement of the show's second national tour in 2023, promising to weave ancient verses into contemporary dance across stages nationwide.

Du Fu, one of the luminous beacons of Chinese poetry from the Tang Dynasty, crafted verses that cascade like brilliant rainbows, vividly illustrating the ebbs and flows and the magnificence of his storied career. The dancers breathed life into Du Fu's sentiments and emotional landscape throughout the performance through their refined and elegant movements. Each poetic undulation and delicate motion unfolded as a heartfelt homage to his timeless verses. Enraptured, the audience was seemingly transported back to the flourishing epoch of the Tang Dynasty, immersing themselves in Du Fu's profound reflections and expansive philosophical musings, etched gracefully into his enduring poetic works.

The second version of the dance drama Du Fu conscientiously preserves the foundational structural framework of its initial version while delving deeper and investing additional efforts into elucidating the emotional intricacies of its characters, enhancing dramatic coherence, and refining characterization details. To elevate audience engagement and appreciation of the dance drama, timely poetry presentations are ingeniously interwoven, facilitating a more intuitive resonance between the on-stage portrayals and Du Fu's poignant verses.

Illustratively, upon the completion of the dance segment "Li Ren Xing" (Ode to Beautiful Ladies), the "An Lushan Rebellion" section seamlessly integrates the "Concubine" dance sequence, thereby vividly encapsulating and expressing the melancholic destiny of a concubine during that period, augmenting the emotional depth and narrative coherence of the performance.

"It's utterly awe-inspiring. My wish has finally been fulfilled today," expressed Ms. Zhang, an audience member who has attentively followed the dance drama Du Fu for numerous years. Previously acquainted with the performance only through online clips, she was nevertheless captivated by the resplendent costumes and meticulous makeup showcased in the video clips of the drama. Embracing the cultural ambiance, she donned a Hanfu to attend the live show. With palpable excitement, she proclaimed, "Presenting this drama on National Day is remarkably apt, given that Du Fu was a fervently patriotic poet, deeply concerned with the nation and its people; the drama proficiently kindles our patriotic sentiments and reverence."

Unlike Ms. Zhang, many spectators have savored the drama on multiple occasions. Ms. Guo shared her perspective, recognizing that compared with the initial version, both Li Geng, portraying Du Fu in the initial version, and Sun Ke, embodying the poet in the current rendition of the dance drama Du Fu, each infused the stage with their distinctive merits and exemplary performances. Skillfully navigating through their roles, they captured the nuanced emotions interwoven within the historical narrative with admirable finesse, sustaining and amplifying the performance's acclaim and popularity among seasoned spectators and newcomers alike.

"I used to immerse myself in the show alone, but this time, I brought my two children along with me," reflected Ms. Li, an audience member, brimming with emotional resonance. Her belief that, even if the depth of the performance might elude them, her children could still be subtly shaped by the exposure to such refined art was palpable. In a heartfelt gesture, she procured three show-related items in a single enthusiastic purchase, presenting them to her children as tangible reminders of their collective, culturally enriching experience.

Program books, notebooks, postcards, and Chinese-style figures inspired by Li Ren Xing are just a few performance-related products that revitalize the theater lobby. In the radiant embrace of the Chongqing Grand Theater's lobby, sales of ancillary products associated with the rejuvenated version of the dance drama Du Fu had soared, experiencing a vibrant surge. A scant 15 minutes after the curtain fell, the shelves stood empty, and enthusiastic patrons eagerly claimed each item. This vibrant activity underscores the palpable excitement and the profound admiration emanating from the audience towards the production.