‘The Awakening Lion’, a distinctive Lingnan folk dance drama and the first large-scale dance drama in China themed around the Cantonese lion dance, won the Lotus Award, China’s most prestigious dance award in January.

A still photo of dance drama ‘The Awakening Lion’ [Photo: Nanfang Plus]

This was only one of the 65 large-scale plays or operas launched in Guangdong last year. According to officials from the province’s publicity department as well as culture and tourism department at a recent work meeting, a number of major cultural events will continue to be put on stage across the province this year.

The slated events include music, dance, drama, play, opera, acrobatics and art exhibitions, with major works in these fields aiming to become classic pieces for the people.

A work meeting about culture and art work is held in Guangzhou on March 25th, 2019. [Photo: Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism]

Some of these events have been successfully held on multiple occasions over the years and enjoy great prestige worldwide. They are the Ersha Island Outdoor Concert Season held in Guangzhou between October and December, the Guangdong Dance Festival to be held in Guangzhou in November, the Guangzhou Jazz Festival to be held in Guangzhou in December, and the Guangzhou Triennial, Youth Music Culture Guangdong, and Guangdong Performing Arts Troupe Show Seasons.

We can also look forward to the 1st Greater Bay Area culture and art festival to be held in Guangzhou this June and a series of cultural activities dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China through out the year. Please stay tuned.

Reported by Monica Liu

Edited by Simon Haywood