Dragon Boat Racing: a story of passion

Dragon Boat Racing, an award-winning Chinese dance-drama performed by the Guangdong Song & Dance Ensemble, returns to the US East Coast two years after its US premiere in New York.

The show was performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington from Feb 2-4 and will be staged at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia on Wednesday and Thursday.

“We are thrilled to present this production, which showcases so beautifully the Guangdong Song & Dance Ensemble’s theatrical artistry, as well as a vital facet of Chinese artistic culture. We hope Dragon Boat Racing will both enlighten and enchant American audiences,” said Wang Xiuqin, executive director of CAEG.

Blending traditional Cantonese music and history with state-of-the-art theatrical artistry, the show tells the story of the creation of one of the most iconic and enduring pieces of Cantonese music.

Set in 1930s China against the backdrop of the Japanese occupation, Dragon Boat Racing follows two lovers whose passion for each other is equaled only by their passion for music. It tells the story of how one of the finest and most famous Cantonese compositions became a musical theme that inspired an entire nation.

“Love is eternal. I think one thing that will attract the American audience is the value of love from China,” said Han Zhen, director of Dragon Boat Racing.

“I think people from different countries share common things about feelings, and emotions,” said Zhou Liya, director of Dragon Boat Racing.

Dragon Boat Racing had its US premiere at Lincoln Center in New York in January 2016 and received positive reviews from the US media.

In a January 2016 review, The New York Times refereed to the show as “A Story Sea of Love and Song”.

“With no spoken words or singing in the production, it is punctuated by a series of stunning set pieces, each more memorable than the last that feature absolutely beautiful ballet-esque dancing and sometimes pantomimed movement that is so smooth and fluid as to feel almost animated,” the review said. “Do yourself a favor and go see Dragon Boat Racing. … It’s a remarkable, highly professional, well-made, well-performed show.”

“I think that’s because they can understand it. It touched their heart, which is the highest standard to judge a play,” said Chen Chunmei, chairman of China Arts and Entertainment Group (CAEG), the state-owned cultural enterprise that has brought back the show to the East Coast.

In 2016, Dragon Boat Racing was named a Wenhua-Award winner, the prestigious national award presented every three years by the Chinese government to recognize the highest level of staged performing arts productions presented by the Ministry of Culture.

Dragon Boat Racing is a part of CAEG’s Image China cultural exchange initiative, a program that introduces traditional and contemporary Chinese performing arts to audiences around the world.

Since its inception in 2009, Image China has presented works at venues across the globe, including Lincoln Center in New York, the Kennedy Center, and performance venues in Australia and throughout Europe.

“Chinese culture is not about just telling a story. The most charming part of Chinese culture is the feeling of the people. We do not only tell a story with our music and dance. I’d rather say we’re interpreting a Chinese spirit,”said Li Xing, who played He Liunian, the main actor in the show.