A new dance drama titled *Ancient Hues: National Treasures of Liaoning* brings to life 17 significant artifacts from the Liaoning Provincial Museum through a creative blend of dance, theater, poetry, and multimedia. The production, created by the Liaoning Song and Dance Troupe in collaboration with the museum, premiered in May 2025 and has toured several cities across China. It is scheduled for performances in Beijing on September 15 and 16 as part of the 7th National Ethnic Minority Art Festival.
The production’s narrative is framed by a fictional visit to the museum by a young character named Moxuan, who is guided through the exhibitions by a personification of the jade pig-dragon, a signature artifact of the Neolithic Hongshan culture, which flourished approximately 6,500 to 5,000 years ago in northern China. The jade pig-dragon is presented not as a solemn relic but as a lively and playful figure, intended to engage modern audiences, especially younger generations increasingly interested in traditional culture.
The performance unfolds in four thematic sections—calligraphy, painting, music, and artifacts—comprising ten independent dance pieces inspired by the museum’s collection. Among the featured pieces are the Tang Dynasty (618-907) painting *Court Ladies Adorning Their Hair with Flowers*, the *Rui He Tu* (Auspicious Cranes) painting by Zhao Ji (Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, 960-1127), and the Tang Dynasty guqin known as Jiuxiao Huanpei. The dancers interpret these visual and musical objects by translating elements such as the flight of cranes or the gestural restraint of aristocratic women into choreographed movement, carefully balancing artistic expression with fidelity to the original works.
Playwright Ma Lin and director Ma Yuli emphasized the challenges of animating static cultural relics, a process that required more than a year of research, including repeated visits to the museum and consultations with specialists. They selected artifacts not only for their historical significance but also for their potential to inspire movement. Each segment of the production adopts distinct visual and emotional styles to maintain variety and avoid redundancy.
The piece also includes a performance based on the famous handscroll *Luoshen Fu Tu*, a Song Dynasty copy of an Eastern Jin painting depicting a legendary encounter between poet Cao Zhi and the goddess of the Luo River. Dancer Li Bo, portraying Luoshen, interprets the story through expressive, impressionistic choreography that highlights the subtle and poignant moments captured in the literary and artistic traditions.
Audience responses have been positive, with visitors praising the innovative approach to presenting traditional Chinese culture. Replicas of the featured artifacts displayed in the theater lobby before performances provide context and invite viewers to engage more deeply with the objects before seeing them embodied on stage.
The creators view *Ancient Hues* as a bridge connecting heritage and contemporary artistic expression, aiming to inspire a renewed appreciation for China’s cultural richness through the dynamic encounter of ancient treasures and performance art.