Soaring Wings makes US debut

NEW YORK — Chinese dance drama Soaring Wings: Journey of the Crested Ibis recently premiered at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City’s Lincoln Center.

The dance drama, produced by the Shanghai Dance Theater, explores the fate of crested ibises, beautiful and rare creatures that symbolized happiness and blessings in ancient China.

Centuries ago, humans lived in harmony with these birds — reserved, elegant, sacred and noble, yet also sensitive, vulnerable and occasionally distant. But with modernization and urbanization, the natural environment for the crested ibises began to deteriorate and they became an endangered species in the mid-20th century.

The dance drama uses traditional Chinese music, opulent costumes and expressive choreography to appeal to the audience to protect the natural environment.

“We showcase the beauty of the bird and its habitat. Then we destroy it and re-establish it in our drama in order to present to our audience the significance of protecting Mother Earth,” says Tong Ruirui, director and choreographer of the ballet drama.

She adds that the crested ibis is a symbol, representing mankind’s pursuit of harmonious coexistence with all species.

The lead dancer Zhu Jiejing says the choreography in the drama is unique as it combines ballet and body movements that are typical in classical Chinese dance, and also includes movements imitating the crested ibises.

Viewers say the dancers’ embodiment of the birds was impressive.

“I liked the dichotomy between the movement that is supposed to be human and the movement that is supposed to be bird, and the merging of the two,” says J.T. Horenstein, adding that the dance drama is unique as it merges contemporary ballet with traditional Chinese dance.

Since its premiere in China on Oct 7, 2014, Soaring Wings has been staged nearly 200 performances in China and other Asian countries.

The dance drama was performed on Saturday and Sunday at the Lincoln Center.

On Jan 11 and 12, it will be staged at Shubert Theater in the Boch Center in Boston.