Yang Liping’s dance drama ‘The Rite of Spring’ stands within the illusion constructed by Stravinsky a century ago. Yang Liping has created her own version of ‘The Rite of Spring,’ a testament to her artistic language. Eastern philosophy collides fiercely with Western culture, and vision and tension merge with cultural and primitive colors. This is a ritual belonging to spring, and also a sacrifice sowing blessings and enlightenment.
Over a hundred years ago, Stravinsky composed ‘The Rite of Spring,’ originally the music for a ballet that seemed like a set of codes full of possibilities, attracting countless dance artists for a century. In 2016, Yang Liping formed an international team with artists such as Tim Yip and He Xuntian, embarking on a great adventure to decipher this ‘code’ of life. Over two years, they traversed illusions, experienced reincarnation, created ‘existence’ from ‘nothing,’ interpreting the West through the East; seeking harmony through differences. This ‘The Rite of Spring’ is a deconstruction of the classic, a new structure, and a fresh interpretation by Yang Liping with Eastern aesthetics, wisdom, and philosophy. The stage form is filled with mysterious Eastern elements, and the dance language explores new ground based on Yang’s consistent dance aesthetics. In terms of plot, it expands on the original ‘The Rite of Spring’ with magnificent imagination. Yang Liping’s version of the dance drama tells a story where ‘God’ falls into the mundane world out of compassion, experiences myriad trials, and becomes ‘human’; ‘humans,’ with the intention of enlightenment, willingly sacrifice and fearlessly give, transcending their humble status to become ‘God’ again. People are busy on the earth, singing and dancing; living and disillusioned; realizing and being ferried across, reborn on the spot. This is Yang Liping’s version of ‘The Rite of Spring,’ and we wait for you in spring, offering a heart dedicated to the sacrificial art of the stage. The main creative team includes Yang Liping, the chief director, born in Dali, Yunnan. A national first-class actor and vice-chairman of the Chinese Dancers Association. With astonishing dance talent, she stands out. In 1986, her creation and performance of ‘Spirit of the Peacock’ gained her fame for its beauty and ethereal quality. Major representative works include ‘Spirit of the Peacock,’ ‘Moonlight,’ ‘Two Trees,’ ‘Love of Peacocks,’ etc. Since 2003, Yang Liping has created large-scale stage works such as ‘Reflections of Yunnan,’ ‘Tibetan Mystery,’ ‘Sounds of Yunnan,’ ‘Peacock,’ ‘Ambush on All Sides,’ ‘Reflections of Yellow Mountain,’ ‘Winter of Peacock,’ ‘Reflections of Pingtan,’ etc. She has won awards including the ‘Golden Award for Classical Works of Chinese Dance in the 20th Century for the Chinese Nation,’ the ‘Performance Award’ at the Osaka International艺术节 in Japan, the ‘Lotus Award’ for Chinese Dance for best dance poetry, best actress, best director, and best costume design.In 2011, Yang Liping, as one of the representative figures, appeared in ‘China’s National Image – People’ broadcast on Times Square in New York, USA, leading ‘Chinese beauty’. Ye Jin-tian, art director. Ye Jin-tian is an artist who wanders between clothing, visual art, film art, and contemporary art creation. He is dedicated to the interpretation of Chinese contemporary art. In 2001, he won the Oscar for ‘Best Art Direction’ and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for ‘Best Costume Design’ for the film ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’. He is a Chinese who has received the above honors. Ye Jin-tian presents his ‘New Orientalism’ aesthetic concept to the world and is one of the most important artists to let the world understand the beauty of Eastern culture and art. In 2012, in the dance drama ‘Peacock’ in cooperation with dance artist Yang Liping, he served as the stage art and styling art design. In 2015, Ye Jin-tian once again served as the art director and costume design of Yang Liping’s dance theater ‘Ambush on Ten Sides’. General director/art director: Yang Liping. Art director: Ye Jin-tian (Hong Kong, China). Composer: Stravinsky, He Xuntian. Literary director: Liang Geluo. Executive director: Gong Zhonghui, Li Yimeng. Producer: Farooq Chaudhry (UK), Wang Yanwu (Australia), Yang Jin. Lighting design: Fabiana Piccioli (Italy). Video animation: Tobias Gremmler (Germany). Special director: Wang Taorui. Makeup and styling: Chen Minglang (Hong Kong, China). Stage technology: Sander Long (Netherlands).【Starring lineup】Zhu Fengwei (Da Zhu), Dong Jilan (Xiao Jin Hua), Shui Yue, Chen Xuanzhi. *The specific lineup is subject to the live performance. Running time is approximately 120 minutes (subject to the site).
