Dance drama sets scene for year ahead

Dance drama Qianshou Guanyin (thousand-hand bodhisattva) has long been etched in the hearts of the Chinese people as a brilliant cultural symbol. On New Year's Eve, a revamped version of this famous performance premiered at the Shanxi Grand Theater in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, accompanying the audience in welcoming the arrival of 2025.

Originally introduced to the public in 2005 during China Central Television's Spring Festival Gala, the dance quickly captivated viewers from home and abroad. By 2011, it had gained international acclaim, both versions being the brainchild of renowned director Zhang Jigang.

When discussing the inspiration behind the dance, Zhang highlights the influence of his hometown, Shanxi. The exquisite Thousand-Hand Guanyin at the Jinge Temple in Wutai Mountain and the Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye Guanyin at Chongshan Temple in Taiyuan served as creative inspirations for the dance's iconic imagery.

The newly reimagined dance continues to convey the original's message of harmony, compassion and selflessness inherent in Chinese culture.

Guanyin, a goddess of compassion, is often depicted with a thousand arms, having an eye in the palm of each hand, to symbolize an omnipresent mother figure always witnessing the pain of humanity with endless amounts of mercy, extending out one of her many arms to lend a helping hand.

From Dec 31, 2024, to Jan 4, the performance at the Shanxi Grand Theater consisted of seven shows. Audience member Li Yang says that the show was not only captivating but also moving.

This new rendition maintains the essence of the original while daring to innovate and break new ground. It places greater emphasis on detailed choreography and emotional expression, allowing the audience to better feel the power inherent in the dance.

"We should be like lamplighters, not only illuminating ourselves but using the light of art to brighten the hearts of all our audience," director Zhang says.

Following its run in Shanxi, the show will go on a national tour.