Through this collaboration, Du and Crouch were inspired to create a space where the Jino people's deep connection to the land, forest and their profound ecological awareness could find new life, echoing across time and borders.

"We wanted to ensure that these ancient emotions — these deep cultural ties — would not just remain in the past but would speak to contemporary audiences," Du notes. "I don't consider myself a composer in this production because the music is already there. I bring my own concept to it and reimagine it."

One of the Jino folk songs that Du encountered during her visits to Yunnan was The Shell Song, which tells the tragic tale of forbidden love. In The Ocean Etched in the Forest, Du reimagines this song, blending it with her own compositions and melodies while staying true to its original spirit. The result is a new version of the song that bridges past and present.

Crouch, ever the innovator, brought his vision to life by crafting two large puppets from local materials to represent the tragic lovers of The Shell Song. This unique form of interactive storytelling blends the materials of the Jino people's daily lives, such as bamboo used to make baskets and mats, with modern theatrical techniques, adding a visual and dynamic layer to the performance.

Another key collaborator in The Ocean Etched in the Forest is He Guiying, 58, an inheritor of the Jino drum dance, a traditional performance of intangible cultural heritage at the national level. She will also appear in the production in both Beijing and New York, bringing her own expertise and passion for the tradition to the stage.