Chinese dancer and choreographer Wang Yabin’s work ‘An Individual Soliloquy’ will be staged in Guangzhou in early September, forming part of the 2019 Dance Festival presented by Guangzhou Opera House.

A stage photo of dance drama ‘An Individual Soliloquy’ [Photo: Guangzhou Opera House]

‘An Individual Soliloquy’ recounts the story of Kumārajīva from a modern perspective.

Buddhist monk and scholar, Kumarajiva (344-413), is famous for having translated Buddhist scripture into Chinese. Kumarajiva traveled to Liangzhou in Gansu, and later to Xi'an, along the trade routes of the ancient Silk Road.

A stage photo of dance drama ‘An Individual Soliloquy’ [Photo: Guangzhou Opera House]

A stage photo of dance drama ‘An Individual Soliloquy’ [Photo: Guangzhou Opera House]

This drama focuses not merely on the length of his physical journey but the broadening of his spiritual outlook. Watching the show, you will feel the transitions between dream and reality, the performance juxtaposing death and life through time and space.

Wang Yabin choreographed the first half of the dance drama, which takes audiences back to life in the 5th century and introduces them to Kumarajiva, and Japanese dancer-choreographer Shintaro Hirahara worked out the second half, which links Kumarajiva to the present day.

A stage photo of dance drama ‘An Individual Soliloquy’ [Photo: Guangzhou Opera House]

A stage photo of dance drama ‘An Individual Soliloquy’ [Photo: Guangzhou Opera House]

Besides Hirahara, Wang has collaborated with other international dancer-choreographers, including the former star of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish, with whom Wang choreographed a ‘Dream in Three Episodes’, and Sidi Larbi Chekaoui from Belgium, who choreographed ‘Genesis’.

Recognized as “one of the most important dancers in Asia” by Knack Focus, Wang Yabin has won gold in many key national dance competitions, and has starred in several popular TV series in China.

A stage photo of dance drama ‘An Individual Soliloquy’ [Photo: Guangzhou Opera House]

Time: 7:30pm, Friday - Saturday, September 6-7, 2019

Ticket: RMB 80-480

Location: Opera Hall, Guangzhou Opera House

Add.: No. 1 Zhujiang Xilu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou

Nearby metro station: Zhujiang New Town, Line 3 or 5

Duration: 90 minutes (With no intermission)

*No children below 1.2m will be admitted.

Author: Monica Liu

Editor: Simon Haywood