Wuxi to stage dance drama in England

The Embroidery Girl, a lavish Chinese dance drama performed by the Wuxi Song and Dance Troupe, will be staged in England from Mar 25 to Apr 11, 2018 after being invited by the Ms-L Performing Arts Exchange.[Photo/WeChat account: wxsgwjyjsmzwjy]

The Embroidery Girl, a lavish Chinese dance drama performed by the Wuxi Song and Dance Troupe, will be staged in England from Mar 25 to Apr 11, 2018 after being invited by the Ms-L Performing Arts Exchange.

First performed in 2011, The Embroidery Girl features an A-list cast and crew, including choreographer Zhao Ming, who has won many top national dancing awards and promotes the development of modern Chinese dance dramas, and famous composer Zou Hang, who wrote Starlight, which was performed by pianist Lang Lang during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Leading actress Zhang Yashu and actor Xu Peng are both experienced dancers and among the best in the Wuxi Song and Dance Troupe. The 60-year-old troupe, active in east China's Jiangsu province and Shanghai, has produced dozens of high-quality works and is famous throughout the nation.

Based on the life experiences of two Suzhou embroidery masters, Shen Shou (1874-1921) and Yang Shouyu (1896-1981), The Embroidery Girl has been shown in America, Canada, Australia and Holland. "The drama is deep and spectacular", reported the local media in Sydney.

The two masters are both regarded as landmark artists of Suzhou embroidery, one of four famous embroideries in China. Shen Shou incorporated her 40 years of embroidery experience into Xue Huan Xiu Pu, the first book to include details about Suzhou embroidery. Yang Shouyu has had her work presented to the nation. Her artwork The Image of Roosevelt is now in the National Gallery of Art in America.

The Embroidery Girl, which integrates oriental dance and folk art, is a great way to show traditional Chinese culture, arts and performances to the world.