Dance Drama Crested Ibises Staged at National Center for the Performing Arts

“By the floating mist of the lake， several pink feathered crested ibises are flying slowly across the crimson rays of the setting sun， causing rhythmic ripples with their red feet， quietly and elegantly……”

The premiere of a fascinating and poetic dance drama was staged at the Opera House of the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on December 9， 2014. Crested Ibises， jointly sponsored and created by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries， the Publicity Department of the CPC Shanghai Committee and Shanghai Dance Theatre， is based on the true story of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature through international protection of the endangered species.

Foreign diplomats were invited to enjoy the performance and welcome the coming New Year.

Crested ibis is a beautiful and precious rare creature symbolizing happiness and good luck. Centuries ago， in agrarian times， humans lived in harmony with the species. In our minds， they are passionate birds， reserved， elegant， sacred and noble， a species that used to be widely distributed in northeast Asia， which， however， has been declared endangered by the 1970s.

Fortunately， Chinese scientists accidentally discovered seven wild living crested ibises in Yangxian County， Shaanxi Province in 1981， and carried out a conservation program. Thus， the “bird of good fortune” can continue to give its blessing.

The dance drama Crested Ibises consists of two acts: ancient times and modern times. On the stage， the pure and beautiful images accompanied by melodious music took people back to ancient agrarian times. Honest villagers busy in the fields lived in harmony with the beautiful crested ibises， sharing the gifts of nature. However， with the rapidly advancing industrialization， the colourful birds gradually faded away in the grey air of the cities. The lad dancing sweetly with the crested ibis turns into an old man living on his memory.

Children had to go to the museum to see the beautiful image of the crested ibis. Not until human beings began to realize the need and carry out careful protection did the size of population of crested ibis become an auspicious sign.

During the four-year creation process， artists made field trips to Yangxian County， Shaanxi Province to get a profound understanding of the living habits of the crested ibis to enrich the materials for creation of the dance drama.

On the stage， dancers combine traditional Chinese dance with classic ballet and modern dance， using graceful body language to present the story of how human beings begin to realize the damage they were causing to the natural environment during the process of industrialization and urbanization and then take measures to protect nature and environment and build a harmonious relationship with various kinds of creatures. Through the loss of crested ibis in the past， the dance drama calls on people to cherish nature and to cherish our common homeland.

NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairman Arken Imirbaki who is also President of the China-Arab Friendship Association， President Gu Xiulian of the China-ASEAN Association， CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin， as well as over 200 foreign diplomats and guests from more than 80 countries and regions watched the performance.