“AWAKENING Lion” is a high‑energy dance drama coming to the local stage, fusing Guangdong folk dance, ritual, southern lion performance, martial arts and spoken‑song traditions into a visceral theatrical experience. The production draws on Nanquan (Southern Fist), Choy Li Fut (a southern martial arts style), lion‑drum acrobatics and sung narration to stage a muscular, fast‑paced story that celebrates Lingnan culture and communal spirit. Rejecting the introspective tone of many dance dramas, “Awakening Lion” favors taut storytelling and commanding physicality. Choreography is bold and athletic: Low horse stances, explosive leaps, quick shifts and the signature maneuvers of southern lion work — dodges, flips and dramatic rebounds — are woven into a contemporary dance vocabulary. The result balances power and grace, marrying traditional technique with modern stagecraft and delivering jaw‑dropping lion‑drum sequences. The plot traces tradition, rivalry, loss and collective resistance. In a Lingnan village, contenders A Xing and Long Shao prepare for a lion‑king contest; A Xing narrowly wins their first match. Long Shao’s sister Feng’er quietly falls for A Xing. Humiliated, Long Shao descends into addiction and family honor frays. On the day of the contest, invading forces attack — Guangzhou is sacked and Feng’er is killed. Confronted by national crisis, A Xing and Long Shao set aside enmity, beat the drums, lead the awakened lions and, with their neighbors, defend their homeland. Rich in regional detail, “Awakening Lion” reads as a compendium of Lingnan heritage. Multimedia staging, including projection, dynamic lighting and sculptural sets, adds contemporary flair and amplifies the drama’s emotional force. Since its 2018 premiere, “Awakening Lion” has won wide acclaim as China’s first dance drama centered on a national intangible cultural heritage subject. Honors include the 18th Wenhua Theater Award, the Lotus Award for dance drama and recognition as an Outstanding Production at the 13th National Dance Showcase. (Tang Li) Time: 8 p.m., April 10–11 Venue: Shenzhen Poly Theater, Nanshan District Metro: Line 2, 11 or 13 to Houhai Station (后海站), Exit E | 