The Legend of Dunhuang
About the Show
China’s highly-acclaimed dance spectacular makes its Australian debut
The classic Chinese dance story The Legend of Dunhuang promises to thrill Australian audiences with colourful pageantry, stunning choreography and an unforgettable tale of honour, love and hope.
Hailed as “The Oriental Swan Lake”, The Legend of Dunhuang is an enthralling blend of Chinese classical dance with other modern dance forms, which includes the well-known dance thousand hand bodhisattvas and backward Pipa playing. Originally created in 1979, this exquisite production transports the audience to the height of the Silk Road trade with impressive backdrops of breathtaking sceneries, Buddhist art and dazzling costumes.
This piece is more than a story, it is a living history of Dunhuang, a city in northwest China's Gansu Province and the grottos that have become a UNESCO heritage site. The story follows a wealthy Persian trader lost in a swirling dust storm in the middle of the Gobi Desert, until the beautiful Yingniang and her father Shenbi Zhang, a frescoes painter comes to rescue……
The Legend of Dunhuang has travelled the globe in the role of cultural ambassador. It has been performed more than 2,800 times for over 4,000,000 audiences in the past 39 years. It was reinvigorated in 2008 to celebrate the Beijing Olympics, which is its current form. The show portrays the magnificent cultural splendours of the Tang Dynasty, presenting ancient China to its modern audiences with energy and flair.
Performing group: Gansu Dance Troupe
Established in 1961, Gansu Dance Troupe is widely regarded for upholding the culture of Dunhuang, a city renowned for its natural beauty and historic ties to the Silk Road. They have won numerous national awards and toured nearly 40 countries, making The Legend of Dunhuang, a milestone masterpiece in the history of Chinese dance.
To find out more about this production including the storyline, performing group and the crew, or to purchase full price tickets click here
Feedback/Comments
I had a wonderful night seeing The Legend of Dunhuang. The costumes were beautiful and the dancers displayed amazing talent. I was impressed with the choreography of the show and the show program was very well done in explaining the story behind the dance. A great night.