Performing Arts Fair kicks off in Shanghai
The Performing Arts Fair of the 20th China Shanghai International Arts Festival raised its curtain on Saturday and will run through next Monday.
Nearly 460 organizations from 53 countries and regions participated in the fair. Seven agreements were signed on Saturday morning. Among them was Yang Liping’s work “Rite of Spring” which is commissioned by the festival.
The dance premiered at the Shanghai International Dance Center on Friday.
“'Rite of Spring' was briefly showcased during last year's fair and attracted some foreign organizations such as Edinburgh International Festival which commissions the work along with China Shanghai International Arts Festival,” said Wang Yanwu, producer of the dance.
The original version was a ballet and orchestral concert by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. Yang’s new interpretation of the Western classic, which is infused with Eastern philosophy, will be staged in Brisbane Festival next September, according to the agreement.
“Through the platform of China Shanghai International Arts Festival, Yang has opportunities to communicate with many foreign artists and thus her art philosophy becomes more internationalized,” Wang added.
With such a successful case, this year’s fair will introduce 31 works opening with the theater “The Last Warrior Elephant” which will debut on November 3.
Adapted from Shen Shixi’s namesake novel, the theater depicts how human beings and elephants support each other during the war.
“Intriguingly, I first heard of the story from my 11-year-old son. It is included in their textbook. He told me that 'Daddy, you must create the show,'” said He Nian, director of the theater.
Intending to tell a Chinese story with universal expression, the creative team is built up with domestic and overseas theater professionals. The show combines both traditional puppetry and modern scenography.
“It is not so much a children drama as a theater which caters to audiences of all ages. From conception to completion, it took five years,” said the producer Ma Chencheng.
