SHENZHEN Cantonese Opera Troupe will be based in Bao’an District, according to an agreement signed by the troupe and the district Friday.

In the future, the troupe will establish a Cantonese opera museum, set up a Cantonese opera school, hold training courses, and regularly bring high-level performances of Cantonese opera to Bao’an residents.

Founded in 1979, Shenzhen Cantonese Opera Troupe is the only municipal State-owned professional art troupe in Shenzhen. Its artistic level and achievements are well-known among provincial and national professional art troupes.

As an excellent original art brand in the city, the troupe has a good reputation in Hong Kong and Macao, and has visited the United States, Canada, Singapore and other countries.

Cantonese opera enjoys a long history in Bao’an District and is very popular among local residents. According to insiders, 800,000 to 1 million people patronize Cantonese opera in Bao’an, especially in Shajing Subdistrict.

This January, as a signature cultural program, the Shajing Cantonese Opera Festival was held for the fifth consecutive year, attracting a large audience.

According to Yao Ren, Party chief of Bao’an District, Cantonese opera is a treasure of the Lingnan culture. Setting up its base in Bao’an is not only a milestone in the troupe’s history, but also a major event in the district’s development.

Yao said the district will provide better conditions for the troupe and fully support it to achieve better development, with the hope that it will create more quality works in Bao’an.

Song Tao, chief of Shenzhen Cantonese Opera Troupe, said Cantonese opera is a treasure of traditional Chinese art. The district’s profound cultural heritage can provide sufficient nutrients for the development of Cantonese opera, while the troupe will strive to improve the level of its creations and performances for the public. (Zhang Yu)