Fragile populations require strong humans to care for them. Addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity require "solidarity on the same planet." Graceful birds on stage can possess the power to touch the human heart.

Author: Li Peng, Fan Yubin

The year marks the anniversary of the arrival of "Youyou" and "Yangyang," the crested ibises gifted by China to Japan, as well as the premiere of the dance drama "The Crested Ibis." Over the years, the crested ibis, known as the "Oriental Gem," has become a "messenger" of friendship between the peoples of China and Japan. Why does the dance drama "The Crested Ibis," created with the theme of protecting the crested ibis, continue to be performed frequently? How does the dance drama "The Crested Ibis" witness the "crested ibis bond" between China and Japan? Recently, Chen Dong, Director of the Shanghai University Center for Haipai Culture Research and a specially appointed expert at Shanghai Theatre Academy, was interviewed by China News Service's "East-West Question" to provide an interpretation on this topic.

Recently, Chen Dong was interviewed by China News Service's "East and West Questions." Photo by Wu Yiqi.

The following is a summary of the interview transcript:

CNS reporter: The dance drama "Zhuhu" premiered in the year. As one of the producers, what do you think is the creative inspiration for the dance drama "Zhuhu"?

Chen Dong: The inspiration for the creation of the dance drama "Zhuhu" came from the Japan Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo. At that time, I was the director of the Shanghai Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo, and during inter-pavilion exchanges, we learned about the story of China and Japan jointly saving the crested ibis at the Japan Pavilion.

The crested ibis, also known as the Japanese crested ibis or Nipponia nippon, is one of the world's most endangered bird species. It was once widely distributed in eastern China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and other regions. Due to environmental degradation, its population has drastically declined, and by the 1980s, it had become extremely rare. In 1981, researchers discovered the only 7 wild crested ibises left in the world in Yangxian County, Shaanxi Province.

Date, Shaanxi Hanzhong Yangxian: Crested Ibis foraging at the Crested Ibis Ecological Park. Photo by Chen Xianlin, issued by China News Service.

The crested ibis has long been regarded as a sacred bird by the Japanese imperial family. The Latin name of the crested ibis, "Nipponia Nippon," literally translates to "Japan's Japan." Historically, the crested ibis was widely distributed throughout Japan. However, in the 20th century, due to factors such as regional development and the overuse of pesticides, the habitat of the crested ibis deteriorated, leading it to the brink of extinction.

To assist in the reconstruction of the crested ibis population in Japan, in a certain month and year, a pair of crested ibises "Youyou" and "Yangyang" gifted by China arrived in Sado Island, Japan from Yangxian County, Shaanxi Province to settle down. Subsequently, to ensure genetic diversity, China has gifted crested ibises to Japan several times, and Japan has also returned crested ibises to China on multiple occasions. Thus, the crested ibis has built a friendly bridge for protection and research between China and Japan.

The story of the crested ibis sparked the imagination of Chen Feihua, then director of the Shanghai Dance Theater, and the creative team. With the support of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Publicity Department of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Shanghai Dance Theater spent four years creating the dance drama "The Crested Ibis," directed by Tong Ruirui. The dance drama centers on the crested ibis and conveys the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature through the art of dance.

Photo of the Shanghai Dance Theatre's dance drama "The Crested Ibis." Courtesy of the Shanghai Dance Theatre.

Reporter from China News Service: On the anniversary of its premiere, Shanghai Dance Drama Theater's dance drama "The White Stork" celebrated its tenth anniversary in Shanghai. Over the past decade, "The White Stork" has been performed over a thousand times both domestically and internationally, including three tours in Japan and a performance at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, showcasing Chinese aesthetics and spirit. Why has "The White Stork" remained a perennial favorite for ten years?

Chen Dong: The dance drama "The Crested Ibis" centers on the theme of environmental protection, telling the story of the intertwined fates of the crested ibis and humans through a poignant and touching plot and a beautifully romantic stage setting.

The dance drama "Zhuque" continues to captivate audiences due to its uniquely crafted choreography and the heartfelt dedication of the performers, which together create a distinctive artistic charm. To gain a deeper understanding of the habits of the crested ibis, the creative team made several trips to Yangxian and Sado Island for field research, collecting audio-visual materials and accumulating creative inspiration. This led to the creation of mimetic dances that imitate the crested ibis' movements such as "wading," "perching," and "soaring," and through bodily language, depict the changing environment in which the crested ibis resides.

Secondly, the dance drama "The Crane" embodies profound connotations. The presentation of the dance drama goes far beyond beauty, reflecting on the relationship between humans and nature. The Earth does not solely belong to humans but to all living beings. This modern concept and awareness of civilization have sparked more emotional resonance and intellectual inspiration.

What left a deep impression on me was the overwhelming demand for tickets during the Japanese tour of the dance drama "The White Stork" in a certain year. Many Japanese audience members were moved to tears and reluctant to leave after watching the performance. The then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife also watched the performance and gave high praise; some Japanese students even expressed a desire to switch to studying biology after watching the show. The Japanese tour of the dance drama "The White Stork" was undoubtedly a successful example of people-to-people diplomacy. Since then, the dance drama "The White Stork" has flown across borders multiple times, and when it was performed at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, USA, the venue was packed, with additional seats opened in the upper tiers for the Sunday performance.

Additionally, the dance drama "The Crane" uses beautiful scenes and graceful dance segments to interpret the eternal theme of "love and life" that transcends national boundaries, conveying the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Fragile species require strong humans to protect them, and addressing climate change and preserving biodiversity require "global solidarity." The graceful birds on stage can possess the power to touch the human heart.

Photo of the Shanghai Dance Theatre's dance drama "The Crested Ibis." Courtesy of the Shanghai Dance Theatre.

Reporter from China News Service: In the West, there is "Swan Lake," and in the East, there is "Peacock." There are many mature bird images on the stage that are widely accepted by the audience. Including "Zhuhu," does the use of birds as a performing vehicle become a "common language" between the East and the West?

Chen Dong: Before the dance drama "The Crested Ibis," there were many famous "birds" in the history of Chinese and foreign dance. For instance, "Swan Lake" is a classic and legendary ballet in the West; in China, the graceful and beautiful image of the peacock created by dancer Yang Liping has also deeply impressed people.

On stage, the image of a bird is truly "universal". Humans yearn for freedom and desire to soar like birds in the sky, leading to the creation of many artistic works that imitate bird-like forms. As a form of pantomime art, dance dramas rely entirely on physical movements to tell stories. Appearing to imitate the image of a bird, they actually reflect human thought.

The crested ibis does not have the elegant neck of a swan, nor the vibrant feathers of a peacock, and may seem unremarkable. However, the creative team has choreographed a unique dance language for the crested ibis—the dancers' lower body movements draw from elements of Western dance styles such as ballet, while their upper body movements incorporate elements of Chinese dance, exuding an ethereal and lively aura.

Over the past decade, the cast of the dance drama "The Story of the Crested Ibis" has continuously evolved. While the emotional impact may vary among different performers, the plot remains unchanged. The story of the crested ibis resonates deeply with countless audiences both domestically and internationally because it uses concrete means to convey abstract themes. Through the beautiful language of the body, it tells the story of the intertwined destinies of humans and nature, where saving the crested ibis is also a rescue of humanity itself.

When people create a beautiful "love between humans and birds," showcasing an idealized realm of human-nature harmony, from a philosophical perspective, it is both a distillation of interspecies cooperation and a pursuit of harmonious coexistence among all living beings.

Photo of the Shanghai Dance Theatre's dance drama "The Crested Ibis." Courtesy of the Shanghai Dance Theatre.

CNS reporter: In the year, the dance drama "The Story of the Crested Ibis" plans to tour Japan again, sharing the story of the crested ibis with more overseas audiences. How does the dance drama "The Story of the Crested Ibis" witness the Sino-Japanese "Crested Ibis Connection"?

Chen Dong: The crested ibis is known as the "bird of good fortune" in both China and Japan. In Japan, the crane is a major symbol of the imperial family, and the crested ibis, which resembles the crane, often appears in various records related to the imperial family. After the death of Japan's last crested ibis, "Kin," Japan once flew its flags at half-mast in mourning.

Over the years, China and Japan have collaborated to protect the crested ibis, significantly improving the Japanese crested ibis population and setting a successful example in the history of global wildlife conservation. Simultaneously, the Japanese side has supported China's crested ibis habitat conservation efforts through official and grassroots conservation projects. Currently, the wild crested ibis population in Japan stands at [number].

In addition to Japan, South Korea is also involved in the protection and research of the crested ibis. The crested ibis, beloved by people in China, Japan, and South Korea, has become a bond of friendship. China, Japan, and South Korea have all held various activities to promote the protection of the crested ibis and friendly exchanges. In the year, the first International Crested Ibis Forum was held in Yangxian, Shaanxi; in the year, the "Friendship Wheel, Beautiful World - Crested Ibis Cultural Exhibition" was held in Japan; in the year, the "Towards the Future - Online Commemoration Event on the Discovery of the Crested Ibis between China, Japan, and South Korea" was held, where experts from the three countries shared their experiences in crested ibis protection and their next steps; in the year, the "Beautiful Ibises Across the World" China-Japan-South Korea Friendship Exchange Event was held in Shanghai...

Multi-field and transnational exchange and cooperation centered around the crested ibis have promoted friendly interactions and mutual understanding between nations. In a certain month and year, the renowned Matsuyama Ballet Troupe of Japan visited Shanghai. Led by its director, Yoko Morishita, the troupe members visited the Shanghai Dance Theater and watched a rehearsal segment of the ballet "The Crested Ibis." Morishita expressed that ten years ago, she had watched the full performance of the ballet "The Crested Ibis" in Japan. The enduring life of the crested ibis and the continuous performance of the ballet naturally deepened the closeness between the peoples of China and Japan. "The Crested Ibis" serves as a "friendship ambassador" for the exchange and cooperation between China and Japan, and will continue to shine brilliantly on stage in the future, touching every audience member.

The crested ibis is also a "test paper" nature has given to humanity, with history as the grader. How to jointly protect the crested ibis and biodiversity, as well as the environmental issues it raises, have garnered global attention. The dance drama "Crested Ibis" uses the power of art to gently land the story of China's green development in the hearts of more people.

Interviewee Profile:*

Chen Dong. Photo courtesy of the interviewee.

• Chen Dong, Director of the Shanghai Culture Research Center at Shanghai University, Adjunct Professor at Shanghai University, and Special Consultant at Shanghai Theatre Academy. He has served as a member of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, a council member of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Deputy Minister of the Publicity Department of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles, a Standing Committee Member of the 14th Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, and Deputy Director of the Internal and Judicial Affairs Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress.

Title: "Chen Dong: How Dance Drama 'Zhuhu' Witnesses the Sino-Japanese 'Zhuhu Connection' - East and West Questions" Text Editor: Cui Bailu Image Editor: Cui Chuqiao Layout: Zang He Proofreading: Wei Yuan Editor: Song Fangcan

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