Old theater now base for modern works
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One of the first theaters to be built in Beijing after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the PLA Theater used to be the venue for soldiers of Song and Dance Ensemble of the Political Department of the People's Liberation Army to perform for the nation and army's leaders.
However, since its renovation in 2005, it has become a public theater for a variety of performances. And in the last five years, the 800-seat venue has made a name for itself presenting smaller contemporary productions.
This month the PLA Theater will join hands with the French Embassy and Wu Promotions, a leading performing arts agency in China, to present its First International Contemporary Arts Communication Festival.
The highlights of the program include a triple-bill by the acclaimed Cullberg Ballet from Sweden, Beijing Contemporary Dance Theater's latest production The Color of Love, the hip-hop dance Revolution by Urban Ballet from France, French comedians' Arlequin Navigue en Chine (Clowns in China) and a chamber concert by Chinese cellist Zhu Yibing and his ensemble.
"Cullberg Ballet is in its fifth decade as a leading company on the front line of modern dance. Their technical proficiency and strong stage personalities have always been the company's characteristics," says Wisely Chau from Wu Promotion, which brings the company to tour China this month.
Cullberg Ballet will perform at the PLA Theater from Friday to Sunday. The three works are 40 M Under choreographed by Alexander Ekman, She Was Black by Mats Ek and the company's artistic director Johan Inger's choreography Negro con flores.
Beijing Contemporary Dance Theater's The Color of Love is a personal piece by the choreographer Wang Yuanyuan. The work premiered in 2006 at Copenhagen when the Danish Royal Ballet commissioned her to create a work.
"It explores the emotions of women in their 20s, 30s and 40s. As a woman choreographer and dancer, I enjoy expressing inner feelings through body language," says Wang who is also the artistic director of Beijing Dance Theater.
The two French programs are part of the 2010 Festival Croisements, the annual cultural communication event organized by the French Embassy and featuring the collaboration of Chinese and French artists. The French comedians use elements of Chinese folk opera and acrobatics to tell a comedic love story between a Chinese princess and a Venice merchant.
Aside from the shows, the PLA Theater opens a salon every Saturday afternoon for the audience to meet the artists who hold pre-performance lectures and demonstrations.
"We've started the Saturday salon early this year as it is warmly appreciated by both the public and the performers. Many artists are willing to share their feelings with the audience off-stage," says Xu Xiaoli, general manager of the PLA Theater. "I wish that the audience will come to the theater not only to watch a show, but also to know a show and the performers well."
