Performed by Gansu Dance Theatre
The Legend of Dunhuang
Hailed as “The Oriental Swan Lake”, China’s highly-acclaimed dance spectacular The Legend of Dunhuang was performed by Gansu Dance Theatre on Australian stages for the very first time in history during September 2018. Following stunning performances in New York and London, Gansu Dance Theatre’s most renowned production The Legend of Dunhuang showcased throughout Australian theatres including The Star (Gold Coast), Civic Theatre (Newcastle) and Darling Harbour Theatre ICC (Sydney) from Sept 18 - Oct 6, 2018 as part of the troupe’s magnificent national tour.
Established in 1961, the Gansu Dance Theatre is widely recognised as an enthusiastic advocate for Dunhuang’s rich cultural history and its reputation as a city renowned for its natural beauty and historic ties to the Silk Road. The troupe has won a number of national awards and toured throughout thirty countries. The Legend of Dunhuang is their most acclaimed piece of work that is generally performed with a 47-piece ensemble, and has even made its debut in over 400 cities worldwide since its initial creation almost 40 years ago. The production was reinvented in 2008 to celebrate the Beijing Olympics and has since come to symbolise a significant milestone in the history of Chinese culture and dance.
The Legend of Dunhuang is a fascinating tale that takes place in a desert city by the name of Dunhuang, now known as a culturally rich archaeological site located in China's northwest Gansu Province. The Legend of Dunhuang narrates the story of a kind-hearted fresco painter and his young daughter, Ying Niang, who save the life of a Persian merchant named Yunis. Ying Niang and Yunis flee to Persia to escape the corrupt forces of their home country while her father stays behind to paint what would later be known as the famous frescoes decorating Dunhuang’s grottoes. This captivating tale takes a tragic turn when Ying Niang’s father sacrifices his life to save her and Yunis.
More than a triumphant tale of honour, love and international friendship, this exquisite production transports the audience to the flourishing era of international trade on the Silk Road, bringing to life the history and beauty of the Dunhuang grottoes that have since become a UNESCO heritage site thanks to the cultural significance of the many murals inside the region’s cave grottoes.
