Groovy islands

Dancer-choreographer Yang Liping works on the rehearsal of her latest work, Pingtan Impression. [Zou Hong/China Daily]

Yang Liping's new dance drama draws inspiration from the natural beauty and local culture of Pingtan, Chen Nan reports.

At first two men are seen beating large drums on a stage. A group of female performers in heavy costumes and makeup then walk in, singing Hakka folk songs in pitches much higher than those of sopranos in Western bel canto.

Next, more men, wearing black wooden masks decorated with red feathers, enter the arena and dance in praise of the ocean gods.

The scene is from a rehearsal of dancer-choreographer Yang Liping's new work, Pingtan Impression, which draws inspiration from Pingtan, located in East China's Fujian province and the closest place on the Chinese mainland to Taiwan.

The dance drama will debut in October, with an Asian tour of more than 200 shows.

It is likely to become a regular show in Pingtan from 2019, with a new theater to be built for it.

"Everything in Pingtan is so fresh. Its beautiful natural scenery and the local culture have been well preserved," says Yang, 59.

She visited the county of more than 100 islands for the first time in October.

Yang, a practitioner of Chinese folk dance, is from the Bai ethnic group of Southwest China's Yunnan province. Her waist-long hair and head accessories add to her exotic image.

Wang Yanwu, Yang's longtime partner, who also manages her company, Yang Liping Arts and Culture Co Ltd, says Pingtan Impression will be a visual spectacle with dancers trying to capture different elements of nature such as the ocean, sand and rocks in their movements. The work will also show deep cross-Straits connections.