Chongqing - The dance drama Du Fu will conclude its 10th-anniversary national tour at Chongqing Grand Theatre on Dec. 18, returning to the city where it premiered in 2016. Tickets for the finale are now on sale.
The special performance will bring together four dancers who have portrayed Du Fu in different casts over the past decade. Sun Ke, Li Jin, Liu Tianyi and Xu Zibo will perform in different sections of the drama before appearing together for the final curtain call, a first for the production.
A scene from the dance drama Du Fu. (Photo: Chongqing Song and Dance Ensemble)
Du Fu (712–770), a major poet of China's Tang Dynasty (618–907), is widely known as the "Poet Sage." He lived through the Tang era's prosperity and the An Lushan Rebellion (755–763), a devastating conflict that brought widespread hardship and displacement. His poetry captured not only his personal experiences but also the suffering of ordinary people.
The dance drama follows Du Fu's life through four chapters, from his youthful ambitions and years seeking an official career in Chang'an to the hardships and displacement of his later years. Without spoken dialogue, it uses choreography and stage imagery to bring his poetry to life.
Two of its best-known scenes offer a striking contrast. Liren Xing depicts the lavish world of the Tang elite through elegant group dances and elaborate costumes, while also reflecting the poet's criticism of their excesses. The Ballad of the Army Carts uses heavy, repetitive movements and images of conscripted soldiers to portray the suffering caused by military campaigns.
Dancers perform a scene from Liren Xing, one of the best-known sections of the dance drama Du Fu. (Photo: Chongqing Song and Dance Ensemble)
The drama has long featured two portrayals of Du Fu on stage, one representing the poet in the real world and the other reflecting his inner thoughts and struggles. According to the Chongqing Song and Dance Ensemble, seven dancers have taken on the role over the past decade. Four of them will appear in the special anniversary performance in December.
Created by the Chongqing Song and Dance Ensemble and directed by Han Zhen and Zhou Liya, Du Fu premiered at Chongqing's Shi Guangnan Grand Theatre on April 28, 2016. It made its overseas debut at Cheonan Arts Center in South Korea in 2019.
The production won the Dance Drama Award at the 10th China Dance Lotus Awards, which recognize excellence in Chinese dance. In 2025, Han and Zhou received the Director Award at the 18th Wenhua Awards for their work on Du Fu. The Wenhua Awards are China's national government awards for the performing arts.
A scene from the dance drama Du Fu. (Photo: Chongqing Song and Dance Ensemble)
The anniversary tour began in Chongqing's Wanzhou District in February. On April 30, the ensemble marked the production's 10th anniversary with a special performance at Duliang Grand Theatre in Chongqing's Liangping District.
According to figures released by the Chongqing Song and Dance Ensemble in late October, Du Fu had given 306 performances since its 2016 premiere, reaching more than 90 cities across China and drawing a combined audience of nearly 400,000.
The ensemble also plans to hold a fan meeting at Chongqing Grand Theatre on the afternoon of Dec. 18. The event will give audience members an opportunity to meet the dancers and hear about their roles and experiences with Du Fu over the years.