"Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting" is returning to Shanghai stage in June, showcasing Chinese traditional culture and aesthetics in a poetic and respectful way.
Created by Han Zhen and Zhou Liya, the joint directors and choreographers of the popular dance drama "The Eternal Wave," the dance made its debut in 2021 and has staged over 800 performances in its national tours over the years.
Ti Gong
"Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting" premiered in 2021.
Without a strong storyline, "The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting" is inspired by the painting "A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains," the only extant work by Song Dynasty (AD 960-1279) painter Wang Ximeng (1096-1119) who created it at the age of 17.
The 900-year-old masterpiece is stunning in its sweeping scale, rich coloration and the expressive minute details. On a single piece of silk, mountain formations and groupings of infinite variety rise and fall between a cloudless sky and rippling waters, extending as far as the eye can see in all directions.
Ti Gong
The dance is inspired by the Song Dynasty painting "A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains."
The painting is a representative of "blue-green landscape". Azurite blue and malachite green dominate, with touches of pale brown.
Using dance to paint, "The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting" transforms the flat spatial art of traditional painting into a time-based performing art with the human body as its medium. It breaks free from the linear narrative of conventional stage art, enriching poetic imagery by downplaying plot and dramatic conflict, while conveying the serene, elegant aesthetic essence of the Song Dynasty.
Ti Gong
The dance enriches poetic imagery by downplaying plot and dramatic conflict.
When creating the work, Han and Zhou communicated with experts and researchers at Beijing's Palace Museum. One researcher even inspired them to set a character as a guide in the dance.
When unfolding the painting inch by inch, the researcher travels back in time to watch the process the ancient painter used to painstakingly create the work, decoding the secrets behind its inherent uniqueness.
Given the popularity of the work, two weekend matinee performances have been added to the original five evening shows in June. Audiences can scan the QR code below to purchase tickets.
Performance info
Dates: June 3-7, 2pm/7:30pm
Tickets: 80-880 yuan
Venue: Shanghai Culture Square 上海文化广场
Address: 597 Fuxing Rd M 复兴中路597号
2026-04-22
