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Culture

Revving up career in Yueju Opera

2025-01-04 11:05:38China Daily Editor : Mo Honge ECNS App Download

Jiang (middle) during the premiere of the children's play Fengshen: The Battle of Nezha and Red Boy at the Nantong Art Theater.(Photo provided by Xu Peiqin/For China Daily)

Onstage, 21-year-old Jiang Zhounan brings stories to life, while offstage, she revels in her own passionate story with speeding motorcycle. Born in 2003, Jiang embodies the elegance of the stage and the freedom of the open road. Her life blends the grace of traditional Yueju Opera with the thrill of biking.

Her journey into the world of art began with a serendipitous moment in her second year of junior middle school. During a singing rehearsal, Jiang's clear voice and heartfelt emotion captured the attention of her teacher. Recognizing her talent, the teacher handed her an enrollment brochure for the Zhejiang Vocational Academy of Art, setting her on the path to becoming a Yueju Opera performer.

At the academy, Jiang was fortunate to find a mentor who provided academic guidance and personal support, allowing her to fully immerse herself in the study of the art form. Upon graduating in 2022, she joined the Yueju Opera troupe at the Nantong Art Theater, where she specializes in laodan (senior female roles) while also performing zhengdan (young female roles). Her solid vocal skills and nuanced performances quickly made her a standout member of the troupe. Yueju Opera is a traditional style of opera popular in the Yangtze River Delta region. Its male roles are typically played by women.

But in her free time, Jiang embraces a different kind of performance. Shortly after starting her career, she met a group of female motorcyclists during an outreach performance in the countryside. Their confident, spirited demeanor captivated her, sparking a passion for the speed and the freedom of motorcycling. In 2022, she bought herself a motorcycle, transforming from a graceful Yueju Opera performer to a dynamic, cool rider.

Jiang doesn't see her two personas as conflicting. She believes everyone is multifaceted, with the stage reflecting just one side of her life with motorcycling marking the transition from work to personal life.

Jiang, who is a member of the Yueju Opera troupe of the Nantong Art Theater, carefully applies makeup before going onstage. (Photo provided by Xu Peiqin/For China Daily)