Lady Zhaojun Dance Drama releases trailer

Apart from making birds fall from the sky with her beauty, Zhaojun’s body was apparently resistant to heat with how often she is portrayed in a cloak, despite the background weather.

Chinese opera sensation Li Yugang‘s dance drama on Wang Zhaojun, one of the famed four beauties of China famous for entering into a marriage alliance between the Xiongnu and Han dynasty, has released a trailer.  This version seems to draw heavily from not only Chinese opera and dance but also other sources such as modern stage techniques and stage costuming  Be on the lookout for a potential tour should this strike your interest.

More stills below the cut, with captions as always.

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Lunar New Year Performances Round-Up

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Remind me why she haven’t been in any ancient dramas lately?

 

My picks.   Note that I have no music tastes and most choices are purely based on prettiness. Hence why Tong Liya gets photos but no links to the performance, because the rest of the show must have switched costume and stage designers.

For the first time ever, the local channels completely overwhelmed CCTV in every aspect. Better songs, dances, stage design, and even funnier and less misogynist skits.

 

Best Song-Stage Combo:  While you’re still young by Hua Chenyu
CCTV designers should be taking notes from the simple but so effective stage design for this.  Also, I can’t believe this song wasn’t popular before.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m5mL7Pgyck

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The “androgynous gala” reflects changing attitudes on gender boundaries

WHo's adrogenous now?

“When the two rabbits walk-side-by-side, can you tell who’s male and female?”  – CCTV taking  a lesson  from China’s most famous cross-dresser, Mulan.

Remember back in the days when Li Yuchun was widely criticized for being androgynous, and Western media like the Times even used her as an example of the state’s disapproval of such phenomenon?  Yet if you watched this year’s Spring Festival Gala, nicknamed the “gender-bending gala” by netizens, you would’ve never guessed that was ever an issue.

There’s the now staple performer Li Yugang, a man who is rarely not in a dress, and is dressed up as the moon goddess this year.  Actress Qin Hailu’s skit features  a high-powered female exec with a slick short hairdo and a black suit while her male employee dons a long wig, a pouty voice, and addresses everyone by “dear.”
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