Star performer revitalizes Peking opera

In 2016, the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts launched a project that enabled Zhang Huoding to mentor young female Peking Opera students performing in the style of the Cheng School. Ten actresses have been recruited.

In May, her students staged a show to highlight classic roles from the Cheng School, including Bai Suzhen from The Legend of White Snake and Zhu Yingtai from The Butterfly Lovers, at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing.

One of Zhang Huoding's students, Li Li, 30, said: "She told me that the only way to guarantee the quality of a performance is to practice again and again, from eye contact to breathing and movements. Although she speaks few words, she is very disciplined and always inspires us."

Li started her Peking Opera training in her hometown of Tianjin at age 7, before moving on to graduate with a master's from the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts. She now works with the Jingju Theatre Company of Beijing.

She said that before she studied with Zhang Huoding, she was struggling, as Peking Opera was losing popularity. She even considered quitting her job as an actress.

However, in 2014, she changed her mind after watching a performance by Zhang Huoding at the Chang'an Grand Theatre. The standing ovation, which Li said was the longest she had ever seen, and the enthusiastic response from the audience restored Li's faith in the art.

"I used to be restless, as I had lost my career path as a Peking Opera actress, but now I am very calm and determined. I am touched not only by Zhang Huoding's solid technique onstage, but also by her attitude toward this old art," said Li, who sports short hair, just like her mentor.