"Dongpo: Life in Poems" premieres at Kennedy Center

What's it like to witness the inner world of an ancient Chinese poet from more than 900 years ago?

Internationally acclaimed choreographer and visual artist, Shen Wei, brings a fresh experience to audiences in the U.S.

Premiering at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the dance drama, "Dongpo: Life in Poems" dives into the poetry and life of the renowned Chinese poet Su Dongpo.

“In the beginning, I spent nine months just doing research, to figure out how to do it, how to transform a literature to be a dance production, find words, language, to no words, no language, but how can I do that. Of course, we have learned what’s going about his life in the past, what the feelings of each poem (are), what’s the meaning of each poem that relates to us today, to every human being, not just people from 900 years ago,“ said Shen Wei. 

This production captures the poet's lifelong emotions into 12 of his poems, expressing them through a blend of body movements and contemporary art forms.

Presented by China Arts and Entertainment Group in collaboration with the American Dance Festival, this production marks a major step in cultural exchanges between China and the U.S.

“I think for U.S. audiences to come here, we are seeing where we are building these bridges, and there are more likeliness than differences with one another. And artistic creativity achievements should be celebrated everywhere," said Jodee Nimerichter, Executive Director of the American Dance Festival.

Li Jinsheng, Chairman of China Arts and Entertainment Group, emphasized that in the future, they would like to bring more excellent Chinese traditional and modern culture and art to the United States, and also introduce American culture and art to China to help boost cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between the two peoples. 

Minister Jing Quan from the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. attended the premiere, highlighting the importance of cultural exchanges. “Art can serve as a bridge," he said. ""Dongpo: Life in Poems" opens up a new chapter in the cultural exchanges between our two countries, and I believe exchanges like these will bring our peoples closer and move the bilateral relations forward,” he added. 

After watching the performance, Carla Canales, an opera singer said, "I loved it. It was really one of the most beautiful things I've seen, very touching in a way that the choreography melded with the music and with the story, it was just so beautiful and thoughtful."

Another audience Nizar Vellani said, “I love the synchronization, the sets, and the music was good, and the flow of all the dances, amazing."

As part of Image China cultural exchange initiative, the production, "Dongpo: Life in Poems" serves as a reminder of the power of art to transcend time and culture.

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