Dance drama Tian Gong Kai Wu launches global tour

Dance drama Tian Gong Kai Wu, or The Exploitation of the Works of Nature, will launch its global tour.

On Oct 25, the dance drama will be staged at the Sydney Opera House and from Nov 28 to 30, in Athens, the capital of Greece.

Inspired by the classic of the same title by Song Yingxing, a scientist who lived in the late Ming (1368-1644) and early Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, the dance drama is directed by Chinese filmmaker Lu Chuan and premiered in 2024.

First published in 1637, the book, Tian Gong Kai Wu, offers a summary of ancient China's manufacturing and farming techniques, earning recognition as an encyclopedia of science and technology. The dance drama revolves around Song's quest, portraying his journey to gather the techniques and tools and emphasizing the craftsmanship of ancient Chinese people.

So far, it has toured nationwide by visiting nearly 30 Chinese cities with about 100 shows, attracting more than 100,000 audiences.

The production is a joint effort between the Jiangxi Cultural and Performing Arts Group and the Beijing Dance Academy.