Modern dance drama "Ancient Music & The Rite to Spring" took to the stage in Beijing on Wednesday. This bold attempt to fuse elements from the five ancient civilizations with modern society in a 90-minute visual extravaganza was the work of the Beijing Modern Dance Company.
It was an unusual opening for a dance drama. Each dancer introducing themselves as looking for Kunlun, the passage to heaven. Kunlun was believed to be the name of ancient Babylon, so fittingly enough the first act was accompanied by traditional Iraqi drum music.
The journey through the ancient civilizations continued with an Egyptian religious recital and the bittersweet sound of an Indian sitar. Next came the Greeks, and a Byzantine solo, which told a story of life, death, desire and burden. It was followed by a rendition of Chinese lute classic, Ambush from All Sides, which may scare folk music lovers, but the choreographers say the controversial clash of tradition and modern is getting people talking, and that's the main thing.
This might be the first time a Chinese tunic suit and Cheongsam has been seen on a modern dance stage. In All River Red, the last part of the drama, the dancers recreated Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. It aims to show the development of Chinese contemporary dance through a direct and violent confrontation between tradition and rebellion.
The young, but well-acclaimed, Beijing Modern Dance Company will take "Ancient Music and Rite of Spring" to Los Angles for the Grand Performances 2003 Summer Series and is planning a European tour early next year.
(CCTV.com August 11, 2003)
