A Dream Of Red Mansions

A Dream of Red Mansions, an original dance drama by Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts (JSCPA), is instructed by The Publicity Department of Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the CPC, advised by Research Institute of The Dream of the Red Chamber, Chinese National Academy of Arts, planned by Jiangsu Cultural investment & Management Group.,Ltd, produced by JSCPA, jointly produced by Nanjing Chinese Orchestra and Lixing Studio. The production was awarded as the most influential dance drama award in China, “the Lotus Award”, and is now one of Chinese audience’s favourite dance dramas.

Created in late 18th century, The Dream of Red Mansions is one of Chinese Four Great Classics and a world-renowned novel. It portrays an extended family in ancient China through the story of heavenly fairies experiencing the human world. The book awes generations of readers with the magnificent group portraits it paints.

The production’s plot centers around the love between Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai. It aims for faithfulness to the original novel and innovation at the same time. A group of creative young artists were invited to rekindle the story with a unique modern view. The production drew from ancient paintings’ aesthetics and Chinese antiquity to devise graceful and elegant dance scenes. It’s an attribute to Chinese traditional culture and a revival of national classics through contemporary lens.

The production inherits the structure of traditional Chinese novels. The twelve dance numbers, Entry, Illusory Land, Jealousy, Imperial Visitation, Promenade, Burial of Flowers, Lantern Festival, Loss of Jade, Warding-off Evil, Family Reunion, Flower Burial and Back to the Great Wilderness, corresponding to twelve independent chapters, which narrate the story together.

The production is co-directed by two dance artists who have won numerous awards at home and abroad. It features leading playwright, composer, lighting designer, set designer, and makeup designer in China. A star-studded cast performs this piece, including outstanding dancers of the new generation as leads and dancers from JSCPA Artists in Residence. This group of dancers in their prime approaches the Chinese classic with modern perspectives, and recreates the marvelous kingdom of youth in the “Grand View Garden”.