Zhuang's Legend of the Sun tours Europe

The Legend of the Sun, a famous folk-dance drama from the Zhuang autonomous region of Guangxi, will be performed in Europe from Jan 30 to Feb 22. Provided to China Daily

The Legend of the Sun, a famous folk-dance drama from China's Zhuang autonomous region of Guangxi, is playing in five European cities from Jan 30 to Feb 22.

“The five-nation European tour will stop in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Geneva and Brussels and is expected to attract hundreds of thousands local audience members during the total 14 performances scheduled across the continent,” said Joshua Hao, director of brand and strategy for the China Performing Arts Agency (CPAA).

It is one of the dance dramas that CPAA brought to Europe as the "Charm of China" project, Hao said.

The Legend of the Sun's European tour has been described as the largest one, setting a milestone in the history of the Chinese art and dance scenes.

The dance drama is the adaptation of a traditional tale from the Zhuang people — an ethnic group from China's southwest regions.

It revolves around the adventures of the Zhuang, living in the darkness and cold of a world with no sunlight. A courageous woman will be the one embarking on a quest to find the sun for her people. During her treacherous voyage, however, she gives birth to a son who grows up to tenaciously look for the sun as soon as his mother can no longer take the journey's hardships.

In the drama, therefore, scenes of strife are constantly alternated with moments of happiness and hope.

Experts noted that the show gives voice to the unyielding perseverance of the Zhuang, depicted as a remarkably tenacious people who fight to bring back the sunlight they long yearned for. Furthermore, it blends traditional aspects of Zhuang culture with modern choreography, stage lighting and fine costume design, presenting itself as an ideal way to project Chinese culture abroad.

The set for the show is inspired by the unique landscape of the Guangxi, one of China's most beautiful regions. Located in southern China, Guangxi is the home to most of China's Zhuang population, approximately 14 million people.

Hao said CPAA has chosen some of Europe's most important venues, including London's Sadler Wells Theater, one of the world's leading dance venues since 1683; the Paris Opera Theatre; the Jahrunderthalle in Frankfurt; the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in Geneva; and the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels.

The Legend of the Sun has been awarded several national arts awards and honors, including the Golden Lotus Award and the Outstanding Production Award at the seventh China Theater Festival. It selected as one of the Ten Best Productions by the National Project for the Distillation of Stage Art for 2004-2005.