Oriental Legend, a dance drama stage production, makes its North American premiere in Toronto’s Elgin Theatre on December 12 and 13. After its Toronto run, the show plays from December 18 to 20 at the Canadian Museum of History auditorium in Gatineau, Québec.
Oriental Legend was created by Beijing Dance Drama and Opera Company, a premiere state-level performing arts organization. The production features a large cast with dance, music, and elaborate costumes, along with projections and immersive lighting. The work is based on the true history of the storied Silk Road some 2,000 years ago.
The production premiered in 2021 at the inaugural four-month-long Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) in Hong Kong. In China, the production garnered multiple awards, and toured to more than 110 cities and upwards of 100,000 audience members across the country, along with 600 million streams online. This is the first time it will hit North American shores, presented by CPAA Productions Ltd.
LV spoke to Qianjia (Shy) Huang, the Secretary General of the Canada China Cultural Development Association, co-organizer of Oriental Legend Canada, and marketing representative Shan Attaoui to get a few details about the show.
Oriental Legend
The story of Oriental Legend is based on the true history of the Silk Road region, and features Feng, who served as a border general of the Han Dynasty. Jian Te is the son of a chieftain from the north, and Chun Jun is the daughter of the ruler of Jingjue, the ancient city located at what is now known as Niya.
In 1995, a rare fragment of brocade from the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD) was discovered at the Niya ruins in northwest China in the Taklimakan Desert. The armband was of the type used by archers to protect their arms in ancient China. It was embroidered with patterns in blue, white, red, yellow and green, and characters that translate as “Five Stars Rise in the East, Benefiting China”, its vibrant colours preserved by the arid desert climate.
Found in a coffin, it is evidence of the reach of the Han rulers in the far west region of what is now China. The area where it was found was a key intersection on the southern route of the Silk Road, an important route which brought Western and Eastern civilizations together for the purposes of trade.
During the Han period of Chinese history, the region was the site of armed struggles between the Han soldiers and local populations.
“The whole story is […] a very old story, [from] 2,000 years ago,” says Huang. “It’s like the brocade which was found in 1995. This year is the 30th anniversary.”
“It’s a real story that was discovered by archeologists in Western China,” Attaoui adds.
“There are characters, they checked with history records from the Han Dynasty.” Shy explains. “There’s a soldier from the Han army, and a guard from a local kingdom on the Silk Road.”
Unknown to each other at first, the two meet as enemies. “They get stuck in a really tough situation together, and end up saving each other’s lives.” After surviving those events, their relationship begins to change. “The respect turns into real brotherhood.”
The two realize that they are fighting for the same principles — protecting their homeland, family, and people. It’s a journey from conflict to peace.
“It’s about finding common ground as human beings,” Shy says.
As he details, while modern day China is majority Han in terms of ethnicity, the people who lived and traded along the Silk Road were actually quite diverse.
“China is a vast country,” Shan adds. She notes that the languages spoken are quite different, even in writing, from East to West. “There is no such concept of China as a country.”
As she points out, thematically, the story can be taken as one about immigration, a concept that echoes to the present day. “We share place and live together peacefully.”
Oriental Legend: Dance Drama
The production features Han-Tang classical dance, in combination with the Lantern Dance that was endemic to the Western Regions.
Shy explains, “It’s all about classical Chinese dance, which is totally different than Western classical dance, or ballet. It’s known for being super graceful.”
He notes that it is characterized by control, and a slow pace. “Their movements are really different.” Long movements create shapes in the air.
“The famous dance from this show is probably the Lantern dance.”
The Lantern dance is performed by women who each hold a glowing lantern, creating patterns and shapes as they move. “It’s like watching a […] flowing river of light. It’s made to show a sense of joyful celebration,” he adds.
“People love it because it’s both technically impressive and also beautiful to watch.”
It’s a dance that is associated with festivals, and was featured on national broadcaster China Central Television for the 2023 Spring Gala to millions of viewers.
“It’s the equivalent of the Chinese New Year gala, you can look at this as our Super Bowl,” Attaoui explains.
The Canadian Shows
“The stage at the Elgin Theatre will present a big and interesting challenge,” Shy says.
Set up for the production will take two full days. “The show uses a huge amount of high tech stage equipment,” he explains. “The most eye catching parts is the huge LED screen. It fills up the back of the stage.”
The LED screen will flesh out the background with scenes of the desert, the ancient cities, even the starry skies above the Silk Road 2,000 years ago.
“There is a kingdom, there are different cities,” he explains.
“It’s very immersive,” Shan adds. “They have many intelligent stage lights.” The theatre’s own lighting system will be augmented by others the production will rent. “These lights are carefully programmed to create specific moods.” That includes cityscapes, action, and romantic scenes. “These lights act together with the screen.”
The sound system will be tested make sure it projects to every corner of the theatre.
“I cannot wait to see it,” she adds. “It’s the first time to go to another country.”
Shy notes that it comes at a time when Chinese-Canadian relations are beginning to thaw.
The music was created by the Beijing Dance & Drama Theatre, part of the Beijing Arts Company. “They are trying to combine the classical singing and pop singing,” Shan adds. Some parts will be quite modern in flavour.
“I’m really excited to see it,” Shy says.
- Find details and tickets for the Toronto and Gatineau shows [HERE].
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