Chinese production's overseas debut proves that art has no borders

(LU PING / CHINA DAILY)

The dance drama Wing Chun, produced by the Shenzhen Opera & Dance Theatre in Guangdong province, made its highly anticipated overseas debut in the vibrant city-state of Singapore late last month.

The performances, staged for three consecutive nights starting on Sept 28, epitomized the profound observation of United States theorist Ken Wilber: "When diverse cultures converge, they give rise to a unique and splendid creation."

The show, one of the year's most successful and best-selling Chinese dance dramas, was staged in Singapore at the Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay, with one performance receiving seven encores.

Before arriving in Singapore, the production toured China since being premiered in Shenzhen last year, with more than 90 performances staged in over 30 cities. It received critical acclaim and was especially popular with younger audiences.

In Singapore, there was a sense of excitement as the audience gathered outside the theater for the show's final night.

Don Low, 53, a university lecturer in fine arts, who heard about the production from a friend, was there with his family, including his mother, who was celebrating her 83rd birthday.

"My mother has been doing kung fu for the past 30 years, so I think she will enjoy the show. We're also taking the opportunity to catch up with cultural performances, because we haven't attended one for a while," Low said.

Chinese national Janna Pan, 29, said she immediately bought tickets for the show when she heard it was coming to Singapore.

"It's very hard to get tickets, as this troupe is so well known. I'm extremely happy to have the chance to watch the show in person," said Pan, who works in the construction industry.

The drama follows the story of Chinese kung fu master Ip Man, against the backdrop of a movie set during the 1990s. Using a play-within-a-play format, the show centers around the thrilling encounters between leading kung fu masters.

It features five types of Chinese martial arts — wing chun, tai chi, baguazhang, bajiquan and praying mantis.

The fights in the production are charged with plenty of emotion, while the plotline and characters in Wing Chun are used to tell the story of ordinary people and heroes supporting each other in the pursuit of justice and equality.

Euphoric response

During the final curtain call in Singapore, the mood was euphoric, as the audience cheered, clapped enthusiastically and gave the cast a standing ovation. The young performers from the Shenzhen Opera & Dance Theatre were equally enthusiastic as they greeted long lines of audience members during a book signing after the performance.

The show's directors said bringing Wing Chun to Singapore was a memorable experience. The production is directed by Han Zhen and Zhou Liya, rising stars in the art of Chinese dance.

Han said: "There are many ethnic Chinese in Singapore, so we felt extremely close. We were also deeply moved by the way in which Singaporean audiences welcomed us. Through this dance drama, we hope people will develop a deeper understanding of China's great traditional culture."

It was the first time that Han and Zhou had worked on a kung fu-dominated production, but they had previously staged performances that featured elements of the martial art.

They traveled to Guangdong numerous times to learn more about martial arts by visiting memorial halls and kung fu masters' former residences. They also spoke to a number of instructors to learn about the history, tradition and changes made to kung fu.

Zhou said the performers received strict martial arts training before learning the dance moves for Wing Chun. Given the production's physical demands, this was challenging work. The players needed to move with grace, speed and strength, and portray their characters with a great depth of emotion.

"Many moves in classical Chinese dance come from Chinese martial arts and opera. So the way in which force is exerted in classical dance is very similar to martial arts. We also merge the movements of modern dance and traditional martial arts, creating a unique feature for this show," Zhou said.

The production's team members said they hope to embark on a world tour next year, including a visit to Europe. In January, they plan to stage Wing Chun in Hong Kong, and are excited about the prospect of bringing more shows to audiences in Singapore.

Kung fu, an intrinsic symbol of traditional Chinese culture, has attracted a strong following among followers worldwide, who are drawn to its various fighting styles, strategy, philosophy, morality and wisdom. These factors emphasize the balance of body and mind, and inner peace. The enduring popularity of kung fu can also be credited to movies starring Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

Many martial arts schools and training institutions in Singapore offer a variety of courses and styles, attracting numerous students. In addition, martial arts performances and competitions are held regularly to provide opportunities for practitioners to compete and show their skills.

Nigel Lan, a wing chun enthusiast who went to see the show in Singapore, said it was interesting to see martial arts performed in a new context in which fusion was blended with contemporary dance.

The 38-year-old lawyer said young people are now more connected to culture than before.

"When I was growing up in the 1980s, China had still to fully open up. But today, young people are actively looking for ways to reconnect with their roots, be it through hanfu culture (wearing traditional Chinese clothing and accessories) or shows such as this. For me, practicing wing chun offers the chance to feel deeply connected to my Chinese roots," Lan said.

Pivotal roles

Shows such as Wing Chun are pivotal in helping spread martial arts to a wider audience, including the younger generation.

Lin Deng Li, chairman of the Singapore-China Business Association's culture and education committee, went to see Wing Chun in Singapore on Sept 30 with her 15-year-old grandson.

It was the second time she had seen the show, having watched it on the first night at the invitation of the Chinese embassy.

Lin, a tireless champion of arts and culture for more than 30 years, has helped promote many cultural exchanges and programs between Singapore and China.

"I still want to watch the show again to deepen my knowledge and understanding," she said.

Alongside Lin, her grandson Jaden Chng said: "I love watching the Ip Man films, and had heard many good things about Wing Chun. It was a very unexpected but interesting experience to see the show." The Ip Man series of Hong Kong martial arts films are based on the life of a wing chun master of the same name.

Singapore and Shenzhen, who have a long-standing and close relationship, have launched bilateral measures such as the Singapore-China (Shenzhen) Smart City Initiative.

Audience member Chi Shu Na said productions such as Wing Chun promote international cultural exchanges and bring Chinese culture to the international stage.

She added that greater efforts, such as staging workshops, symposiums and lectures, should be made to organize cultural activities between Singapore and China to promote audience participation and deepen understanding.

Social media and other digital channels can also help attract audiences and raise the profile of such shows, Chi said.

She suggested that more exchanges take place between actors, directors, production teams and other artists from both countries to promote artistic innovation. Schools could also stage more such productions to enable students from Singapore and China to learn about each other's culture and history," Chi said.

"Watching this beautiful audio and visual feast gave everyone a touching and beautiful sense of enjoyment. Truly, art has no borders," she added.

Lin Jialin, an assistant professor at Sun Yat-sen University's School of Journalism and Communication in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, said the seven encores Wing Chun received in Singapore signifies the production's immense popularity. Shenzhen's efforts to promote cultural exchanges, which lie behind the show's success, should also be credited, Lin added.

"Shenzhen's cultural diversity, creative industries, cultural institutions and international exchanges have made the city a dynamic platform for cultural expression, innovation and cross-cultural dialogue. The success of Wing Chun lies in creative cultural expression, which is rooted in Shenzhen's creative industries, including design, fashion, art and technology," Lin said.

"The city's thriving creative sector fosters innovation and artistic expression, contributing not only to the promotion and preservation of Chinese culture, but also to showcasing performers' work and artists' and creators' engagement with the public."

Contact the writers at wangxu@chinadaily.com.cn