A DANCE drama incorporating Yingge Dance of Guangdong’s Chaoshan area, along with diverse elements of intangible cultural relics and contemporary dance art, will entertain Shenzhen audience at the Bay Opera of Shenzhen in February.

“Odes to Heroes,” produced by the Guangzhou Song and Dance Theater, centers around the fantastical journey of Chen Xinyuan in the Chaoshan region. In a parallel world, Chen reconnects with his father, whom he and his mother lost contact with since the early 1940s when his father left home for Southeast Asia. Throughout their encounter, Chen learns that his father dedicated his life to fighting for their mother country. In the end, Chen brings home his late father’s letter to provide solace to his mother, who has long missed her husband.

The dance drama, part of the 2025 GBA Art Performance Season, unfolds a long-standing mystery of Chen Xinyuan by traversing time and space through the art form of Yingge Dance, said Zhou Luo, the scriptwriter of the drama. “The world is filled with strong feelings towards nationality, religions, family and love. The narrative of the story reveals the spirit of the Chinese people,” Zhou said.

Shi Qianjin, artistic director of the project, said the show conveys a story about human emotions with the interplay of reality of imagination.

In addition to the Yingge Dance performances, the drama also features various elements of intangible cultural heritage from the Chaoshan area, including the “going out of the garden” ritual, Chaozhou embroidery, wire puppets, beef balls, and Chaozhou oil paper lanterns, all highlighting the rich and diverse culture of Chaoshan, which encompasses Chaozhou, Shantou and Jieyang cities in northeastern Guangdong Province. The “going out of the garden” ritual serves as an adulthood ceremony in the Chaoshan area, symbolizing the transition into adulthood for teenagers.

The production crew visited numerous villages in the Chaoshan area during the creation of the drama. They invited several cultural masters, such as Chen Laifa, a national intangible cultural inheritor of Puning Yingge Dance, Lin Bingguang of Jiazi Yingge Dance, and experts with other local art troupes, to help train the actors.

Dates: Feb. 21-23

Venue: Bay Opera, Bao’an District

Metro: Line 5 to Baohua Station, Exit D(Wei Jie)