The colourful costumes,the exquisite dancing skills and traditional Chinese music with lyrics of the Tang poems - all bring the heyday of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) to the stage thanks to the Sichuan Song and Dance Troupe, which gives its last show tonight at the Poly Theatre in Beijing.

The variety show includes three parts - the imperial court, ordinary people and exchanges with foreign countries.

"We try to recreate the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty in a number of new ways," said Chen Weiya, director of the show.

"We are trying to incorporate our own imagination and creative personality into traditional culture. We just want to produce a good art show for people to enjoy," Chen said.

Accompanied by both traditional and modern Chinese music, the lyrics are based on some famous poems of the Tang Dynasty.

"The audience will not find it boring," said Wei Minglun, art director of the show. "People would find something very modern in this performance, although it mainly refers to the common people's lives at that time."

Most of the 100 dancers are from the Sichuan Song and Dance Troupe, except for Zhang Yongsheng, who has been studying in Moscow. Zhang was invited to act as Li Shimin, second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, in the first part of the show, where Li and his soldiers are preparing to return to the battlefield.

"I think this role suits me well. Because I once was a soldier, I know how to grasp the image and personality of the emperor when he was in the battlefield," Zhang said confidently.

"I hope to create something new in this role, so I am trying to incorporate modern style into my dance to display Li's intelligence, bravery and confidence."

The audience has been impressed. "Although it has no exact plot and each part is not much related to the other, it is not difficult for me to understand the show and the history," said Wang Jie, a woman working for an advertisement company in Beijing, adding that she is especially amazed by the beautiful costumes and stage setting which combines Chinese calligraphy and literature.

The troupe will make a performance tour in 14 cities at home including Shanghai and Tianjin. It is also planning a trip to France.

( China Daily August 13, 2002 )