A dancer of the Beijing Modern Dance Company performs in "Oath-Midnight Rain" in Cairo, Egypt on Nov. 27, 2016. Egyptian audience has a great opportunity to closely experience the Chinese modern dance as a Beijing-based troupe performed on stage in Cairo Sunday. (Photo: Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Egyptian audience has a great opportunity to closely experience the Chinese modern dance as a Beijing-based troupe performed on stage in Cairo Sunday.
The Beijing Modern Dance Company, a leading group of Chinese contemporary dance, performed in Cairo's al-Gomhoriya one of its famous performances dubbed "Oath-Midnight Rain" with over 100 Egyptian and Chinese audiences attending the show.
Exploring the choreographer's understanding of Buddhist Samsara, the show utilizes the personification of flower, bird, fish, insect and grass which are representative elements with far-reaching cultural meaning and profound symbolic significance in traditional Chinese culture.
The show is part of the 2016 China-Egypt Culture Year jointly launched by Egypt and China to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.
Choreographer and director of the show Gao Yanjinzi told Xinhua the idea she wants to convey through the show is that life is beautiful and should be treasured, even for the lives of a flower, a bird or an insect.
"The theme of 'Oath-Midnight Rain' is the Buddhist concept of Samsara, which is of course very different from Egyptian philosophy," she said. "But I am confident that the Egyptian audience will enjoy the performance because both Chinese and Egyptian cultures are open-minded, and it may serve as a bridge to connect the two peoples with art."
The Beijing Modern Dance company regularly performs throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America.
