Celebrating history through dance drama

A collaborative effort between the National Center for the Performing Arts and the Beijing Dance Academy, The Spring in Yangjialing graces the stage at the NCPA from May 9 to 12.

Having premiered at the NCPA in 2022, this dance drama brings together the talent of teachers and students from the Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Department of the Beijing Dance Academy.

Under the direction of Zhang Xiaomei, the production delves into the lives of individuals in Yangjialing, a historic revolutionary base in northwest Yan'an, Shaanxi province, during the tumultuous 1930s and 1940s. It intricately explores how the locals crafted literature, art, and melodies in homage to the Communist Party of China.

Drawing inspiration from the woodcut prints and folk tunes originating from the revolutionary base of Yan'an, the dance drama vividly encapsulates the essence of the region's landscapes and the daily routines of its inhabitants, as highlighted by the director.

In a prelude to the performance, an exhibition on May 8 showcased woodcut prints of Yan'an and innovative artworks conceived by students and educators from art institutions in Beijing.

Among the exhibitors was Huang Yang, a distinguished professor from the printmaking department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, who unveiled a new creation inspired by his journey to Yan'an and aptly named after the dance drama itself.