Following its summer tour in 2023, the hit dance drama The Eternal Wave returned to Urumqi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, with the Shanghai Dance Theatre presenting four performances from Jan 30 to Feb 1.
Based on a true story from the 1940s, the espionage-themed production features underground Communist Party of China telegraph operators Li Xia and his wife He Lanfen. Li was killed shortly before Shanghai's liberation in 1949.
Since its premiere in April 2019, the drama has been staged more than 840 times and earned nationwide acclaim. Between May 2025 and February, it toured 26 cities across China, attracting around 143,000 attendees.
Fang Wen, who plays Li and performed in Xinjiang for the second time, says he was moved by the warmth of the local audience. "On stage, I felt a strong connection with them and their passion for the faith and revolutionary spirit portrayed," he says.
"We hope the performance helps audiences better understand that our lives today are built upon the dedication and sacrifice of countless heroes like these in the story."
Theater volunteer Zhang Xiyuan shares that after watching it live, she now understands why it is considered a phenomenal work, not only for its exquisite choreography and visual beauty, but also for the profound, resilient strength that touches the heart.
An audience member, surnamed Luo, says that while he grew up familiar with Li's story through the eponymous 1958 film, experiencing it through dance offered a fresh perspective. "The drama conveys an emotional depth beyond words. The silent sacrifice and unwavering faith flow through the performers' every movement and gaze, which deeply moved my whole family."
