Flowers of innovation blossom in tradition｜The dance drama “Red Mansions” realizes the dialogue between classics and contemporary times
2023/11/30 01:05 Junction News
It is Jiangsu’s duty to study and implement Xi Jinping’s cultural thoughts in depth, explore new experiences and demonstrate new achievements in building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, and strive to make Jiangsu a vivid practice place for Xi Jinping’s cultural thoughts and an important showcase of the achievements of the modern civilization construction of the Chinese nation. Responsibility of the times. This issue of “Literary Weekly” focuses on four cases: the “hot-selling” national dance drama “Dream of Red Mansions”, the modern Kunqu opera “Qu Qiubai”, Jiangsu cultural context research and dissemination project “Jiangsu Wenku”, and the inheritor of Taohuawu woodblock New Year paintings. Pay attention to them How to bloom the flowers of innovation in traditional culture through creative transformation and innovative development, and tell the Chinese story that happened in Jiangsu——
A dance in the red building is as inviting as a dream.
Two years ago, under the guidance of the Propaganda Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and planned by Jiangsu Cultural Investment Group, the original national dance drama “A Dream of Red Mansions” was produced by the Jiangsu Grand Theater. It is hard to find and has become a “phenomenal” top-notch work in China’s performing arts market.
What kind of “magic” is it that allows “A Dream of Red Mansions” to still ignite the audience’s enthusiasm after being popular for two years?
In 2019, an internal creative seminar at Jiangsu Grand Theater is being held in full swing. What will you do in your next production? Surprisingly, a group of young people collectively voted for “Dream of Red Mansions”.
Deciding to create the dance drama “A Dream of Red Mansions” is undoubtedly a bold “adventure”. “A Dream of Red Mansions” is a dazzling pearl in the history of Chinese classical literature. To present this literary work with profound connotations, numerous characters, and complex scenes on the stage requires not only courage, but also strength.
The “Dare to Eat Crabs” Jiangsu Grand Theater invited two young dancers, Li Xing and Li Chao, to co-direct the show. The starring team is also all “post-90s” full of youthful vitality. It is necessary to respect the original work while also integrating contemporary spiritual interests, which tests the creative wisdom of young artists. Li Xing said frankly that when faced with the huge volume of “Dream of Red Mansions”, the most difficult point is the “choice”. “A Dream of Red Mansions” has many characters and complex relationships, making it extremely difficult to express and refine them using body language. After repeatedly reading the original work, Li Xing and co-director Li Chao discovered the “point” that moved them most, which was the fate of the twelve girls. In the end, they decided to start with “The Twelve Hairpins of Jinling”, locking the core of the work on keywords such as “youth”, “emotion” and “life”, and reopening this literary masterpiece in a young and innovative way.
Li Xing and Li Chao adapted the “famous scenes” in the original work into twelve dance sections, including “Entering the Mansion”, “Illusion”, “Sour”, “Visiting Parents”, “Visiting the Garden”, “Burial of Flowers”, “Lantern Festival” and “Throwing Jade” “Happiness”, “Reunion”, “Flower Burial” and “Returning to the Wilderness”, the twelve dance sections are independent but can be connected to form a piece. Many ingenious designs were also added to the play, which surprised and recognized the audience, such as the re-interpretation of the illusion of Taixu, the wedding ceremony in the first year of spring, Grandma Liu’s entry into the Grand View Garden, Daiyu’s funeral, and the special addition of “reunion”. At the end – after the prosperity has faded, the “Twelve Golden Hairpins” appear again on the stage. Director Li Chao said that he outlined the reunion at the end because he wanted to give it to all the lives that disappeared in “A Dream of Red Mansions”.
“I can watch this kind of drama ten thousand times!” “Only by watching the dance drama “Dream of Red Mansions” can we understand what the ultimate oriental aesthetics is.” “This is the traditional “Dream of Red Mansions” and also the “Dream of Red Mansions” in the hearts of contemporary young people. “At the end of each performance, countless viewers held their breath and shed tears together with the characters in the play, leaving their own feelings about watching the show on social platforms. The dance drama “Dream of Red Mansions” has become a reason for people to “rush to a city”. Many foreign audiences carry their luggage and rush to the theater directly from the airport or train station. Many people have already watched the second, third and fourth time.
“The fact that this drama has become so popular and has received so much enthusiasm and love reflects the sincere recognition and love of contemporary young people for China’s excellent traditional culture. This also gives us more confidence to open up a broad space for future creations. ” said Liao Yi, general manager of Jiangsu Grand Theater.
“The reason why the audience walks into the theater to rewatch A Dream of Red Mansions in today’s digital era is not just because of the beautiful visual effects presented in the dance. The dance drama “Dream of Red Mansions” uses the artistic tension displayed by classic traditional literature to awaken people’s appreciation of tradition. The love of culture.” According to Zhang Ziyan, a Ph.D. in the Department of Philosophy of East China Normal University, the dance drama “A Dream of Red Mansions” absorbs the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture and classical dance, presents the aesthetic conception of Chinese aesthetics on the stage, and highlights national characteristics while , and creatively gives the original work new vitality.
“This is a creative adaptation.” Wang Renyuan, honorary chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Dramatists Association, exclaimed. The young creators have given a contemporary interpretation of traditional Chinese culture and found a wonderful way of presentation, with surprising content. Creativity and unique expression bring the audience aesthetic pleasure beyond expectations.
Although director Li Xing once said that in the process of creating the national dance drama “Dream of Red Mansions”, he only tried to express his understanding and feelings sincerely and did not expect to get such a big response, but facts have proved that this group of young creators It has found a new way to enter “A Dream of Red Mansions”, realized the dialogue between classics and contemporary times, and completed the tribute of today’s young people to the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation.
Xinhua Daily·Intersection reporter Wang Hui
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