Artists bring prosperity of Silk Road to life

More than 360 actors staged a large-scale song and dance drama Colorful Western Region in Xinjiang Grand Theater on May 19.

Since its debut in August 2015, the show has welcomed over 600,000 visits and earned praises for involving diverse artistic elements.

Georgian director Frieden Pagova explained that the song and dance drama represents the prosperity of the Silk Road through acrobatics, martial arts, circus, instrumental performance, folk dance and ballet on ice.

Special lighting effects and sets also add to the show.

"Different kinds of arts all have something in common. Through merging diverse elements, we hope to bring the audience visual enjoyment and show cultural coexistence and fusion," he said.

Enwer Samat, vice-president of Xinjiang Art Theater said: "The Belt and Road Initiative has promoted prosperity of multi-ethnic culture in Xinjiang, together with cultural exchanges along the Silk Road."

Recently, he led more than 100 actors and staff members to Beijing to perform the original song and dance drama Forever Meshrep, which means "forever gathering" in Uygur. This drama is Xinjiang's intangible cultural heritage which combines song, dance, folk music, drama and poetry. It is commonly seen during festivals, weddings and other occasions.

"In recent years, the state invested a lot of money in discovering, protecting and passing on more than 30 versions of the drama. Ours draws experience from at least five versions," Samat said.

Executive director Mikraj Ibras said that this drama reflects the true nature of life.

"We have been to Kazakhstan twice and received a warm welcome from the audience. We hope that more people can enjoy the original Uygur songs and dances in the future," he said.

The radio and television dubbing center of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region now has 12 studios which can produce and translate nearly 70 TV dramas each year.

Technical director Esqer said that dramas and children's shows are translated from Chinese into Uygur and Kazakh both for minority groups and audiences in foreign countries.

"As this initiative moves on, we should strive to meet different cultural needs," Esqer said.

Founded less than one year ago, Kazakh band DALA, based in Xinjiang Changji Hui autonomous prefecture, has been invited to perform in China, Thailand and other places.

Ruheya, one of the band members who graduated from the Central University for Nationalities, says they use 11 national musical instruments to perform. Many musical instruments are popular among professional musicians and ordinary people as they are rarely used and make a unique sound.