“Spring in Yangjialing” Blooms in New Glory with Dance and Painting
China News Service, Beijing, May 10 (Reporter Gao Kai) – The original dance poetry drama “Spring in Yangjialing” has once again bloomed at the National Center for the Performing Arts. Produced jointly by the National Center for the Performing Arts and Beijing Dance Academy, this production has received high praise for its unique blend of dance and painting.
The play, created by the National Center for the Performing Arts’ BDA Youth Dance Company and Beijing Dance Academy’s Department of Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance, has been a collaborative effort of talented artists. Under the direction of chief directors Zhang Xiaomei and Zhang Yunfeng, screenwriter Xu Rui, composers Cheng Yuan and Xie Peng, and visual director Ren Dongsheng, “Spring in Yangjialing” has undergone multiple rounds of revisions to bring the audience on a immersive journey through time and space to experience the passionate Yan’an years.
The spring in Yangjialing represents a time of ideological transformation and literary awakening for revolutionary workers in literature and art. In order to resonate with the spirit of Yan’an, the crew re-arranged the play multiple times, taking in feedback from audiences, experts, and the media to create a literary masterpiece that captures the essence of the era.
The story unfolds with a printmaking student, whose art transports him back to the Yan’an of the 1930s and 1940s, where literary and artistic workers were full of passion and ideals. The addition of the character “Printmaking Student” in this round of revision adds a new dimension to the narrative, connecting past and present.
With a structure of three chapters – “Thick Soil,” “Dawn,” and “Eternal Life” – the play delves into the ideological changes of literary and art workers, emphasizing the importance of art rooted in people’s lives and made for the people. Through dance and painting, “Spring in Yangjialing” skillfully combines the two art forms to explore their commonalities.
“Spring in Yangjialing” will be performed at the National Center for the Performing Arts until May 12, offering audiences a unique and enchanting experience that celebrates the spirit of Yan’an through the art of dance and painting.