Fans meet star dancers at museum

Some 200 fans and guests attended a meet-up with the lead dancers of “For an Eternal Homeland — The Stone Carvers” (“Tian Xia Da Zu” in pinyin) yesterday afternoon at the Shenzhen Museum of History and Folk Culture in Futian District.

(From L) Hostess Jin Jing, Huang Chen, Meng Qingyang, Zhu Jinhui, He Zhongda and Hao Xuerui during yesterday's meet-up at Shenzhen Museum. Photo by Li Dan

Huang Chen, the museum’s curator, welcomed the event as a new initiative to engage younger generations and ignite their curiosity about China’s cultural heritage.

A scene from "Tian Xia Da Zu." Photos courtesy of Bay Opera of Shenzhen

Two years in the making, the production co-produced by Shanghai’s China Oriental Performing Arts Group brings the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings to life through a fusion of dance, music, and cutting-edge stagecraft. 

Starring Meng Qingyang, Zhu Jinhui, He Zhongda, and Hao Xuerui, the dance drama will debut at Shenzhen’s Bay Opera this weekend after its premiere at Beijing’s Poly Theater last December.

The cast of "Tian Xia Da Zu" takes a curtain bow at Beijing's Poly Theater in this December file photo.

“Unlike the Dunhuang, Yungang, or Longmen grottoes, which reflect foreign influences or Buddhist themes, the Dazu Rock Carvings are deeply rooted in Chinese culture and daily life,” Huang explained. He added that dance drama, with its power to vividly portray reality, is an ideal medium to revive this cultural treasure and spark public interest.

Set in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279), the 10-chapter dance drama follows Fu, a war-displaced boy taken in by cliff-dwelling artisans. Through his eyes, audiences witness the arduous yet awe-inspiring process of carving statues into cliffs — a testament to human perseverance. As Fu grows, he joins the artisans in protecting their heritage at great personal risk.

Choreographer Zhang Yaqi blends robust, labor-inspired movements with lyrical sequences depicting daily joys.

Hao, who plays Fu, shared that many characters — like a flute-playing girl, a chicken farmer, monks, and the Bodhisattva — were inspired directly by the rock carvings. Meanwhile, He and Zhu, portraying a master mason and his wife, teased humorous onstage interactions that reflect Chongqing’s local culture.

Choreographer Zhang Yaqi blends robust, labor-inspired movements with lyrical sequences depicting daily joys, capturing Southwest China’s Song-era life. Costume designer Yang Donglin incorporates Chongqing’s everyday materials — rope, straw, and bamboo weaves — with earthy tones mirroring the cliffs’ patina.

The set, designed by Gao Guangjian, features a towering mirror as its centerpiece. Angled to create dizzying cliff illusions, it also symbolizes self-reflection and interconnectedness.

Producer Wu Shan emphasized the production’s mission to celebrate the traditional Chinese values of compassion, kindness, filial piety, righteousness, and integrity, which are embodied in the Dazu Rock Carvings.

A poster for "Tian Xia Da Zu."

Time: 8 p.m., May 9; 2:30 p.m., 8 p.m., May 10

Tickets: 50-880 yuan

Venue: Opera Hall, Bay Opera of Shenzhen (深圳滨海艺术中心歌剧厅)

Metro: Line 5 to Baohua Station (宝华站), Exit A