by Xinhua writers Yang Shilong, Liu Yanan
NEW YORK, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The dance-poetry drama "Dongpo: Life in Poems" captivated American audiences, showcasing the wisdom of the ancient legendary Chinese poet Su Dongpo with the contemporary artistry of Shen Wei, an award-winning choreographer, dancer and painter.
The performance, which made its American debut at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., earlier this month, continued to mesmerize crowds over three consecutive evenings at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City from Friday to Sunday.
Shen's production avoided portraying Su Dongpo's life directly. Instead, it expressed the poet's spirit, intellect, and emotional depth through a fusion of modern dance, traditional Chinese elements, and a striking visual design, accompanied by ancient Chinese zither music and contemporary soundscapes.
This approach was designed to "help transcend linguistic barriers, allowing the audience to explore Su Dongpo's legacy through a contemporary lens, linking past and present in a seamless artistic dialogue," Shen told Xinhua in an interview.
After studying Su Dongpo for four months, Shen selected 12 poems that epitomize the poet's life philosophy from over 2,000 works. These poems were then integrated into a modern dance narrative after 20 months of development and 19 script revisions.
"I feel a strong spiritual connection to Dongpo. We have lots in common. Both of us have a positive outlook. Like him, I'm traveling all the time," said Shen, adding the work is the most challenging project he has ever undertaken.
Jodee Nimerichter, executive director of the American Dance Festival, was particularly struck by the thematic grandeur and nuanced execution of the performance.
"I think there's something so magical ... something can be so magnificent and so grand and so quiet and beautiful and make you think about all moments of life, and take you on a journey. I think it's riveting. It is a visual feast for the eyes," Nimerichter told Xinhua, adding Shen did a "fantastic job."
"I will be very honest to say that I did not know about Dongpo poems. So I find it fascinating to be introduced to something that I only want to dive into deeper. I feel like we got an expansive introduction, that takes us on many emotional journeys and rides of life and things that we confront," said Nimerichter, who watched the show first in the Kennedy Center.
Nimerichter expressed her hope to find ways to bring more Chinese choreographers over to the American Dance Festival.
"It's a program that brings choreographers from many countries. And to me bringing people from all over the world to talk with one another, through the language of dance, makes many people realize there are many fewer differences than one might think," she said.
"When you put them in a room and start dancing, there's much more in common. I hope that we can continue to build bridges. And I look forward to working with China more in the future," said Nimerichter.
James B. Heimowitz, honorary chair of the China Institute in America, appreciated the sensory and cultural richness of the performance, noting its special resonance for both those familiar with Chinese history and newcomers to Su Dongpo's work.
"It was so spectacular for all your senses to be able to have a sense of Dongpo who was so celebrated in the Song Dynasty and fast-forward and bring that to life to a truly modern creation," said Heimowitz.
"For people who understood a little bit about Chinese history and culture, it was really special. But even for those who could just watch and see the visual delight, the dancing in the modern and totally modern interpretation brought to life through this kind of dance form is really amazing," he said.
Richard A. Black, the Schiller Institute representative at the United Nations in New York, said the performance stood out for its portrayal of beauty and soul, contrasting sharply with modern art's often bleak depiction of the world.
"I think it was characterized by great beauty," said Black. "This performance reflected the idea that the nature of the human soul is beautiful and that perhaps the tremendous power of Dongpo over the ages comes from an appreciation of the beauty of the soul. And I think this came out in the performance."
"As a non-Chinese, I can only say that I had a small glimpse of the meaning of Dongpo's poetry. But even that small glimpse was both beautiful and powerful," said Black.
At a reception before the performance on Friday, Huang Ping, the Chinese consul general in New York, expressed the significance of introducing Su Dongpo to the United States.
"I believe that through the dialogue between 'Su Dongpo' and 'Shen Wei,' transcending time and space, the audience can peek at the inner world of the Chinese people," said Huang.
Jing Xiaoyong, chairman of China Oriental Performing Arts Group Co., Ltd., which performed and produced the show jointly with China's Meishan Song and Dance Theater, said the piece intends to interpret Su Dongpo, an icon in Chinese culture, and share his story and spirit with overseas audiences.
The dance is a part of the Image China cultural exchange initiative of China Arts and Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of the Bauhinia Culture Group. It has been staged 20 times in China since its premiere in Shanghai in July 2023.
"International friendship lies in amity between the peoples, and amity between the peoples lies in the connection of hearts. It is art that brings hearts closer and builds a better communication with the world," said Ding Wei, deputy general manager of the Bauhinia Culture Group. Enditem
(Li Siyuan contributed to the story.)
