A dance show, “Guardian Warriors of Longmen”, was staged on August 13 in Luoyang City, Henan Province, China. This dance show is part of the Magical Trip on Qixi series, which aired on Henan TV. (The Qixi Festival, also known as the Qiqiao Festival, is a Chinese festival celebrating the annual meeting of the cowherd and weaver girl in mythology. The festival is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunisolar month on the Chinese calendar.)
Inspired by the cave art in Longmen Grottoes, a world cultural heritage site in Luoyang, this dance was filmed outside the ancient Longmen Grottoes as well as inside film studios. It not only shows Longmen music performers and flying apsaras but also recreates the image of Longmen guardian warriors. Using AR technology, the dance presents the lively images of guardian warriors in the Longmen Grottoes.
Based on the latest research from the grottoes, the show restores the original colors of Fengxian Temple, revealing the colorful grottoes to the world.
It is not the first time that Henan TV has wowed audiences. Early in the Spring Festival Gala, another dance show called Banquet in Tang Dynasty Palace went viral on the Internet. And the Magical Trip on Qixi series program continues the story about three Tang Dynasty beauties’ travel to Luoyang City. Along the way, they met Yue Lao (Chinese mythological version of Cupid) and Bai Juyi (a renowned Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty) and interacted with such traditional cultural heritages as the shadow play and local operas. They also participated in the celebration of the Qixi Festival.
Lu Hongli, the director of Guardian Warriors of Longmen, says that modern digital technology such as 3D and AR are used to produce a combination of the virtual scene with a real stage, along with dance moves of actors, have all made the show impressive. By integrating creativity, traditional culture and modern technologies, Guardian Warriors of Longmen provides a feast for the eyes to audiences worldwide.
The success of the show once again proves the vitality of our ancient culture. Modern interpretation and technologies breathe new life into these old treasures.
Translated by 向望，张宇星，王琼