Chinese dance drama Silk Road made its debut on Saturday night in London, bringing orientalartistic experience for British audiences.
The 34-year-old drama was performed by Gansu Dance Drama and Opera Ensemble onSaturday in the Peacock Theatre of the Sadler's Wells group, Britain's leading dance house.Another two shows will be given in London and Manchester from Saturday to Sunday.
Inspired by the landscape of Northwest China's Silk Road and the early Dunhuang Frescoesand performed by a 47-strong ensemble, the drama depicts a story of peace and friendshipbetween Chinese merchants and foreign traders.
Set in the Sanwei Mountain, a place blessed with thousands of Buddhas and lit by holy lights,the performance follows a painter's daughter who is kidnapped after they help save the life of aPersian businessman on the Silk Road.
Liz Whiu, took her family to watch the drama said the drama was strongly characterized.
"The Chinese drama is fundamentally the same with the British, just with different characters. Butthe different characterizations bring different culture. It's very difficult to say what's the mostenjoyable part, I'm just following the story, and the choreography and music are very well, and thecontrast of the different elements and different move are very interesting," she said.
John M Cruickshank, a local lawyer, said the drama is colorful. "It seems familiar, as the themeof the story is not just Chinese, but universal."
Silk Road has been performed in 30 countries and regions and 400 cities to audiences of morethan 4 million since it was created in 1979. It was adapted into a film in 1982.
Source: Xinhua
