Tribute to treasured porcelain

In the realm where artistry meets history, Qingbai (blue and white) porcelain of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) emerges as a muse that transcends time. Its delicate beauty, characterized by its translucent glaze and intricate designs, has inspired generations of artists across various mediums. One such homage comes alive in the form of a mesmerizing dance drama, where movement, music, and visual art converge to weave a narrative that resonates with the essence of Qingbai porcelain.

Titled Blue and White: Impression of China, the dance drama, produced and performed by artists of China Oriental Performing Arts Group, will be premiered at Beijing's Poly Theatre with shows running from Friday to Sunday.

On July 26, a preview of the dance drama was staged at Beijing's Drum Tower, one of the landmarks of the capital, marking the opening of the production.

Qingbai porcelain, renowned for its ethereal blue-green hues and subtle motifs, reflects the artistic sensibilities of ancient China. With its origins traced to the Song Dynasty, this porcelain was crafted with meticulous attention to detail, embodying a blend of simplicity and sophistication. Qingbai porcelain was widely produced in most parts of southern China, especially Jingdezhen in East China's Jiangxi province. As one of the first varieties of porcelain, it laid a technical foundation for the development of others, including Qinghua, blue-and-white porcelain.

"Since 2022, we made several trips to Jingdezhen, which is a popular tourist destination now. Amid the bustling workshops and ancient kilns, we delved deep into the techniques and traditions that gave birth to Qingbai porcelain by visiting museums and talking to craftsmen. We studied the intricate process of glazing, the art of kiln-firing, and the cultural significance embedded in every brush stroke of the porcelain's designs," says the director, Yi Jie, adding that the dance drama inspired by Qingbai porcelain is more than a performance, but "a celebration of art and history intertwined".

"Central to the creation of the dance drama is a profound homage to the spirit of Song Dynasty artisans," adds Yi.

The dance drama is set against the backdrop of Song Dynasty, telling a story about a young man, who travels from northern to southern China to learn the skills of making Qingbai porcelain. As he finally settles down in Jingdezhen, he not only becomes a skilled artisan but decides to stay, preserve and spread the cultural legacy.

"When we visited Jingdezhen for field research, we noticed that many porcelain artisans had no fingerprints due to the constant handling of clay. Fingerprints are unique biological identifiers, and repeated exposure to the clay wears them away. These artisans infuse their lives into the porcelain they create. Therefore, I believe that porcelain works bear the marks of the artisans' lives," Yi says.

"I can still recall vividly that we went to a very old kiln and saw pieces of Qingbai porcelain which were over 1,000 years old. It was the moment that we had a time-travel experience, which was very inspiring," adds Li Li, the dance drama's artistic director, noting that the old kiln is closed to the public for protection and opened to the creative team of the dance drama with limited hours.

"We were very honored to enter the kiln, which allowed us to feel and imagine those craftsmen, who were revered for their dedication, patience, and mastery of porcelain-making techniques. They infused their creations with a spirit of innovation and elegance, striving to capture the essence of natural beauty in every piece. The dance drama pays tribute to their craftsmanship by embodying the same spirit of meticulousness and reverence for tradition."

China Oriental Performing Arts Group is known for producing the hit dance drama, Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting, which premiered in 2021. It drew inspiration from the iconic painting, A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains, by Wang Ximeng from the Song Dynasty. The dance drama has been staged for over 500 times and enraptured audiences across 62 cities at home and abroad, captivating viewers with its artistic portrayal.

According to Li, compared to Poetic Dance, which features classical Chinese dance as a major dance form, the new production, Blue and White: Impression of China, will not only feature classical Chinese dance but also infuse contemporary elements.

"Imagine a stage bathed in soft, iridescent light reminiscent of Qingbai porcelain glaze. As the curtains part, dancers clad in costumes in sync with the porcelain's color palette and patterns glide onto the stage. Their movements, fluid and precise, mirror the elegance of the porcelain's curves and the subtlety of its designs. Each gesture and step is choreographed to evoke the spirit of Qingbai — serene, harmonious, and evocative," Li says.

The music, composed specifically for the production, is by Lyu Liang, who was also the music composer of Poetic Dance. According to the artistic director, it echoes the delicate melodies that one might imagine resonating from the kilns where Qingbai porcelain was fired centuries ago.

Additionally, the costumes were thoughtfully designed with color emphasis. Yi selected the traditional hues of qing (blue) and bai (white) to highlight the characteristics of Qingbai porcelain.

At the 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala — one of the most-watched TV shows in China, which is aired on Lunar New Year's Eve, one segment of the dance drama, titled Impression of China, was staged, offering the audience with a glimpse of the production.

On stage, the core action of rotation is used to achieve a perfect fusion of porcelain and dance. Dancers spinning on stage resemble porcelain pieces revolving around a central axis, simultaneously demonstrating the dynamic beauty of dance and the static grace of porcelain.

The biggest challenge for the director was how to convey the static beauty of Qingbai porcelain through the dynamic art of dance, a question that troubled him and fueled his drive for exploration and innovation.

How could dancers maintain balance while displaying elegant poses? How could the rotation integrate with the fluidity of the stage to create a unique stage language? After countless attempts, adjustments, and optimizations, the team ultimately overcame these challenges and found the appropriate expression.

Yi says that the spinning differs from that in figure skating or acrobatics. It needs quietness and elegance and requires every dancer to spin in unison, as if being controlled by a remote control.

"When everyone spins in harmony, it creates an atmosphere of tranquillity and grace on stage," Yi says.

When the dancers gracefully spun on stage, embodying the dynamic and exquisite nature of Qingbai porcelain, Yi feels a profound sense of awe and pride.

"At that moment, all the hard work and effort transformed into an intangible satisfaction. I was also happy with the positive feedback from the audience. Though it was only one segment of the dance drama, I am very confident of the feedback after the audience enjoys the whole production," says the director.