Project Introduction: ‘Li Bai’ is a newly created dance drama that tells Chinese stories. Based on Li Bai’s patriotism and unrestrained emotions embracing landscapes, while exploring Li Bai’s spiritual journey, it creates Li Bai on the dance drama stage. The dance drama also explores the customs and dance music of the Tang Dynasty, with typical Chinese cultural charm and beauty. This play selects several major nodes in Li Bai’s life. Through his weighing and choice on the life contradiction of ‘entering the world’ and ‘leaving the world’, it reveals Li Bai’s inner world. After the An-Shi Rebellion, Li Bai in his later years resolutely joined the army, but was exiled to Yelang due to the defeat of his master. This makes him recall his experiences of ‘entering the world’. In the palace, Li Bai rose rapidly and was full of high spirits. However, due to the jealousy of ministers and slander of court officials, he could not gain the trust of the emperor. Various harsh realities made him wake up from the illusion of ‘wishing to be an assistant’ and resign from the Hanlin Academy. Entering the landscapes, Li Bai’s romantic feelings were greatly released. Relying on the spread of the roc, he placed his ideals in the distance. The dance drama ‘Li Bai’ uses the interlacing and combination of ‘reality’ and ‘dream’ environments, and creatively adopts a flashback structure. Starting from Li Bai’s defeat and exile to Yelang in his later years, it unfolds his life memories. It is presented under the titles of ‘Thoughts on a Moonlit Night’, ‘Dream of Wielding a Sword’, ‘Farewell at the Golden Throne’, ‘Vastness of the Ninth Heaven’, and ‘The Roc Catches the Moon’, slowly unfolding Li Bai’s life of struggling and hesitating between ‘Tao’ and ‘Power’. The audience can not only appreciate the beauty of the Tang Dynasty palace but also experience the tension of galloping on the battlefield. At the same time, they can also feel the loneliness and vastness of Li Bai’s inner world in his feelings for landscapes.
Opening hours: 12/27 – 12/28, 90 minutes (without intermission)【Nanjing】2024 Dance Drama Exhibition Series – Grand National Style, National Classics · Magnum Opus of China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater · Dance Drama ‘Li Bai’
Project Introduction: ‘Li Bai’ is a newly created dance drama that tells Chinese stories[...]
