Awakening Lion

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The “Awakening Lion” is the first grand Chinese dance drama on the Mainland to feature “Guangdong lion dancing”, a representative item of the national intangible cultural heritage. It was named the best dance drama by the most prominent dance award on the Mainland – the China Dance Lotus Award. Setting against the backdrop of the Sanyuanli Anti-British Uprising during the Opium War a hundred years ago, the programme reflects the awakening of Chinese national identity. The story is about two teenage lion dance dancers who achieve self-awakening and growth when making various life decisions, such as the emotional dynamics and the righteous cause of the nation. The drama integrates various symbols of Lingnan culture, such as lion dance, Nanquan (Southern Fist), Choy Li Fut-style martial arts, Yingge dance (Dance of Heroes), wooden dummy and more, to create a unique dance vocabulary. By blending multimedia technology with music and costume rich in regional characteristics, the staging features both modern appeal and visual impact. Since its premiere in 2018, the dance drama has toured the Mainland for over 250 performances and has been well received by the audience.