Guangzhou dance drama brings Lingnan culture to Bangkok

The dance drama "Odes to Heroes," one of Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre's "Lingnan Trilogy," took the stage at Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre in Bangkok, bringing the traditional Yingge dance and stories of overseas Chinese communities to Thai audiences. Following the Southeast Asian tour of "Awakening Lion," the production uses traditional performing arts to explore the history, perseverance and deep-rooted attachment to home and country of people from Lingnan who journeyed to Southeast Asia.

Performers in traditional costumes take the stage in "Odes to Heroes" in Bangkok. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

On stage, dancers wielded Yingge mallets in powerful movements blending martial arts and traditional Chinese opera. Set in the 1930s, the production follows Chen Xinyuan, a young man who retraces his forebears' journey to Nanyang and comes to understand their struggles and enduring ties to their homeland. Elements of Lingnan intangible cultural heritage, including Chaozhou embroidery, woodcarving, Chaoshan inlaid porcelain and oil-paper lanterns, feature in the stage design and costumes, while Teochew rap and traditional gongs and drums bring a contemporary dimension to the performance.

The production resonated with audiences, including Thai university students and members of the Chinese community. Mint, a student of Chinese descent at Ramkhamhaeng University, said the story mirrored her own family history. "The Yingge mallets beat out more than just a rhythm; they also express the deep-rooted longing for home carried by overseas Chinese," she said.

Napaporn, an audience member from the Thai-Chinese Culture Union, said the production helped her better understand the spirit of loyalty, resilience and devotion to family and country behind Yingge dance. Other young Thai viewers said the expressive movements and powerful emotions conveyed the story even to those unfamiliar with Chinese history.

The Bangkok performances were accompanied by cultural exchange activities that gave Thai youth an opportunity to learn Yingge movements, hear about the creative process and explore the cultural stories behind Lingnan's intangible heritage. Yingge dance has also become part of Thailand's cultural landscape through generations of Chinese migration, providing a shared point of connection between the two countries.

From "Awakening Lion" to "Odes to Heroes," Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre is bringing Lingnan's cultural heritage to international audiences through contemporary stage productions. By combining traditional art forms with stories of overseas Chinese communities, the tour creates new opportunities for cultural exchange and people-to-people connections between China and Thailand.

A scene from the dance drama "Odes to Heroes." [Photo provided to China.org.cn]