The original dance drama "Nine Years of Yonghe" unveils a corner of the veil between the pavilions and towers in Shenyuan, waving hair on the fan and dancing in the garden. Dance Drama | Nine Years of Yonghe
In the Jiangnan Garden in the center of Shanghai, the carved doors and windows of the Invitation Moon Hall by the pond are opened. The chief actors of the Shanghai Opera House Dance Troupe, Song Yu and Tan Yimei, dance the original dance segment of "Yonghe Nine Years" between pavilions, towers, rockeries, and waterfalls. The elegant exhibition held on August 25th in Shenyuan, Shanghai World Expo Cultural Park, marked the first time that "Nine Years of Yonghe" has been unveiled in public. The duet dance by the pond showcases how Wang Xizhi drew inspiration from the different postures of the "goose" and wrote the various forms of "zhi" in the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection.
This current elegant collection pays tribute to one of the most famous collections in Chinese history and culture, the Lanting Elegant Collection, which dates back over 1600 years. Director Wang Yabin, Chairman of the Shanghai Calligraphers Association Ding Shenyang, Chief Designer Li Yonghong of Shenyuan, and Dean Wang Yong of the School of Music at Shanghai University, together explore the common Eastern aesthetics and spiritual connotations of Chinese calligraphy, Chinese dance, and the endless artistic charm of Chinese gardens. The four of them also picked up their pens and wrote the four characters "Yong", "He", "Jiu", and "Nian" on the fan. This original dance drama from Shanghai Opera House will premiere worldwide at the Shanghai Grand Theatre from November 10th to 12th.
Bring "the best running script in the world" onto the stage
In the ninth year of Yonghe, at the Lan Pavilion in Shanyin, Kuaiji, under the call of Wang Xizhi, "a group of wise men arrived, and the young and young gathered together in Xianji. The winding water flowed with wine cups, and poetry and prose were sung.". Wang Xizhi was even more intoxicated and had a smooth mind, riding on the occasion to brush his hair, and wrote the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection.
Why is the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection praised as the "best running script in the world"? Ding Shenyang said, "The lyrics and calligraphy of the" Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection "are unparalleled, and it has extremely high literary value, which can be compared to" The Peach Blossom Spring "," Preface to the Tengwang Pavilion ", and other works. At the same time, its calligraphy is very elegant, with a sense of rhythm between the lines, and the strokes are varied, like flowing clouds and flowing water."
The original dance drama "Yonghe Nine Years" draws inspiration from "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection". The expression of dance limbs cannot be separated from the application of points, lines, surfaces, and bodies, just like the structure, breath, connection, and layout in calligraphy. As a director, Wang Yabin has been staying in the rehearsal hall of the Shanghai Opera House Dance Troupe for over a month. She said, "Calligraphy and dance are both carriers of cultural inheritance. Whether it is wielding ink or dancing gracefully, they can touch upon the profound and profound essence of Chinese culture. Especially in terms of aesthetic taste, many similarities can often be found."
Wang Yabin revealed that "Nine Years of Yonghe" will create a beautiful and romantic visual feast, showcasing the Chinese treasure "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection" through dance, showcasing the natural and carefree emotions of literati and literati in harmony with the beautiful scenery of mountains and rivers, as well as the humanistic spirit and life reflection displayed in the face of disputes and impermanence in the mortal world.
A romantic dialogue spanning time and space
People who come to Shenyuan for the first time can't help but sigh: I didn't expect such a beautiful garden in the center of Shanghai. It extracts and condenses the artistic characteristics of traditional gardens in Jiangnan, combined with the aesthetic taste of modern people, and presents an open and integrated overall pattern, showcasing Shanghai style culture.
Li Yonghong said, "It was only after enjoying the picturesque scenery of 'towering mountains, lush forests, and bamboo groves, as well as the clear and turbulent currents that Wang Xizhi integrated this natural charm and life insights into' Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection '. Today, we enjoy dancing and tea in the picturesque scenery of Shenyuan, discussing the common aesthetic concepts and philosophical reflections of different art genres in traditional Chinese culture. It is also a romantic dialogue that transcends time and space. I believe this is also the harvest that the dance drama' Yonghe Nine Years' will bring to the audience."
Where is Lanting? How many characters are there in Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection? What other famous collections are there in Chinese history and culture? At the beginning of the fair, several guests posed questions to netizens during the live broadcast, sparking lively online interactions.
Zhao Lei, Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Vice President of the Shanghai Opera House, was moved by the audience's enthusiasm for traditional Chinese culture, as their offline registration for the Yaji Festival was rushed out and their online live broadcast received much attention. She said, "Wang Xizhi's" Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection "provides diverse perspectives and broad space for the creation of the dance drama" Yonghe Nine Years ". As the first original dance drama with calligraphy as its theme, how to use dance and painting is a major highlight of" Yonghe Nine Years ". We hope to showcase the literati nature in" Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection "and guide contemporary audiences to cross the long river of history and understand the spiritual core behind its lyrics in the process of presenting the birth and passing down of the" number one running script "in the world."
