On the evening of February 25, the revised version of “Du Fu”, China’s first dance dramabased on “the Sage of Poetry”, made its New Year debut at the Shi Guangnan Grand Theater in Chongqing. This marksthe first performance of the updated show and aprelude to a national tour in 2023.

Significantimprovementshave been made for the drama including better plot coherence, more details in characterization, and combining dance sequences and Du Fu’s poems, all while maintaining its original structure. “Two Du Fus”, one younger and the other older, are seen“dancing together”or “engaging in dialogue”on stage, implyingDu Fu is reflecting onhis past. Thiscreatesa “parallel space”that allows the audience to feel more empathy.

The whole dramachronicles Du Fu’s life of drifting from place to place in four chapters, detailing everything from obtaining to leaving government positions. It depicts hislife of pursuing ideals, standing upfor the people and nevergiving in.

The drama will tour other provincesincluding Shaanxi, Henan, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.