The Magic Lotus Lantern

Introduction

China's first full-length national dance drama, choreographed by Li Zhonglin and Huang Boshou in 1957

The Magic Lotus Lantern is China's first full-length national dance drama, premiered in 1957 with choreography by Li Zhonglin and Huang Boshou and music by Zhang Xiaohu. It draws on the traditional myth of a son who splits a mountain to rescue his mother. The work began as the graduation project of trainees in the first choreography class at the Beijing Dance School, guided by the teacher Chaplin and the Peking opera artist Li Shaochun. Its makers turned a sung opera story into a dance drama without words, a new step at the time, and Zhang's score drew a warm response and later travelled abroad with the production. Zhao Qing danced the Third Holy Mother at the premiere by the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theatre, and a colour film of the production followed in 1959.

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