The much-anticipated dance drama 'Odes to Heroes' will have its first public performances at Guangzhou Opera House from December 14 to 15. At a press conference held on the morning of December 2, parts of the cities for its China tour that will begin in 2025 were announced.

Starting from Dongguan, Foshan, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai in Guangdong Province, the show will go to Quanzhou, Fuzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, Wuxi, Hefei, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Nanchang, Wuhan, Changsha, and other cities in China.

Poster of 'Odes to Heroes' (Poster: Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre)

Following 'Awakening Lion' in 2018 and 'Loong' in 2021, the dance drama is the latest production of Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre and the third in its 'Lingnan Trilogy,' a series that draws on icons of Lingnan culture. After the dance lion and dragon boat, 'Odes to Heroes' turns to Yingge dance, a traditional folk dance originating from the Chaoshan region in Guangdong.

Stage photo of 'Odes to Heroes' (Photo: Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre)

"This is a story of courage, family, romance, and dedication," Qian Xin, the Director of 'Odes to Heroes,' revealed at the press conference. "Taking Yingge dance as the clue throughout the whole story, the audience will follow the protagonist, a Chaoshan young man, to discover a story about nostalgia for the homeland, which is shared by all overseas Chinese people."

Ever since the 19th century, the Chaoshan region in Guangdong has been closely connected with overseas Chinese communities, particularly in Southeast Asia, due to a large wave of migration driven by economic opportunities and trade.

The dance drama has become a recent hit within the theatre scene of China, with tickets for its first public performances at Guangzhou Opera House fully booked in just three hours.

In response, an additional performance has been announced to take place at 2:30 pm on December 15, Sunday, at Guangzhou Opera House, and tickets will open at 11:00 am on December 3. Audiences can book tickets on the website or WeChat of Guangzhou Opera House.

Reporter | Chen Siyuan

Photo | Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre

Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He