The dance drama Wing Chun from Shenzhen was staged at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, France, on October 4th. Many celebrities from art, political and business circles in France came to watch and praised it highly.
Created and staged by Shenzhen Opera & Dance Theatre, the dance drama is based on the national intangible cultural heritage of Wing Chun, a concept-based traditional southern Chinese Kung Fu style and Xiangyunsha (Gambiered Canton Gauze), combining traditional Chinese martial art of Wing Chun and dance and telling the growth story of the martial arts master Ye Wen from Guangdong's Foshan to Hong Kong.
“If the full score is 100, I would give 'Wing Chun' a score of 110,” said Lu Shaye, the Chinese Ambassador to France. He also said that cultural exchange is the foundation of friendship between two countries.
"I have been getting to know China for decades, and China has made many revolutionary innovations in art. Just like the dance drama, it shows us a brand new and rich form and allows French to gain a deeper understanding of China's current cultural and artistic level," said Max Armanet, the editor-in-chief of La Tribune.
Laurent Brunner, the director of the Opéra Royal de Versailles, expressed his appreciation for the perfect combination of dance art and traditional Chinese culture in this work, saying that the performance opened a door for him to explore the beauty of traditional Chinese culture. He also felt the modern vibe of Shenzhen. In his eyes, Shenzhen is like a rising star, full of infinite possibilities.
"I will recommend the plot arrangement and music matching of Wing Chun to my fans. This drama is definitely worth watching live," said Akamztwenty20, a blogger with 24.3 million followers on TikTok who is interested in Chinese culture and martial arts.
"I have been to Shenzhen many times. It's a beautiful city with advanced technology. It seems that Shenzhen's literary and artistic works are even more outstanding," said Herve Azoulay, a scholar in France.
Alain Labat, president of the Paris France-China Friendship Association, gave extremely high praise to the premiere, calling it one of the most outstanding performances he has seen in France. Having visited Shenzhen three times, he pointed out that although many people regard Shenzhen as a high-tech metropolis, "Wing Chun" shows that it also has a profound cultural foundation.
Photos | Shenzhen Special Zone Daily (深圳特区报)
Editor | Zhang Xinyue, Nina, James