Famous Chinese dancing master Yang Liping performs in Sydney, Australia, June 24, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

SYDNEY - A fascinating Chinese dance drama named the "Shangri-La Legend" has caused a sensation in Sydney of Australia these days, as the Year of Chinese Culture in Australia commenced late last week.

As a part of the celebration of the Year of Chinese Culture in Australia, the "Shangri-La Legend" show, masterminded by famous Chinese dancing master Yang Liping and performed by 26 Chinese ethnic minority groups from southwestern Yunnan province of China, presented the audience with original beauty of dancing arts.

Yang, of the Bai ethnic minority, with her grand achievement in rediscovering and presenting the dancing and singing arts of ethnic minorities from Chinese southwestern deep mountains, is considered one of the greatest dancers in modern China.

As the director of the dance drama, Yang also joined the show in person and presented her well-known "Peacock Dance".

In an interview with Xinhua, Yang said, "it is my hope that the Australian audience could enjoy the very original excellent folk songs and dancing that are at the edge of extinction through our performance of less than two hours."

According to Yang, the performing artists are actually farmers of Chinese ethnic minorities. "The artists are dancing to celebrate life and singing the praises of love," she said.

Yang also said she felt honored and pleased that the "Shangri- La Legend" dance drama was made the first cultural event for the Year of Chinese Culture in Australia. "The culture and arts of Chinese ethnic minorities are the most real and original intangible human cultural heritages. They deserve protection just as Australian aboriginal cultures do."

Yang said no changes has been made to the performance style to cater to westerners' taste. "I want to bring about the very original Chinese folks dancing and songs to the Australian audience," she said.

The "Shangri-La Legend" made a success in both ticket box and cultural exchange functions, according to Robert Feng, the director of Ausfeng Event Productions, and presenter of the dance drama.

Feng said, the majority of viewers were of non-Chinese origin, which meant the "Shangri-La Legend" dance drama managed to won the hearts of Australian main stream audience.

The Year of Chinese Culture in Australia consists of a series of cultural activities ranging from performing arts projects, visual arts exhibitions to film festivals which will take place across Australia, showcasing a changing, lively and innovative China.

The cultural activities aiming at strengthening the friendly relations between Australia and China as well as promoting the mutual understanding between the two peoples, will showcase the gems of China's traditional as well as contemporary culture to present a panoramic picture of China to the Australian people.