Chinese dance drama, Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting, will be stage 120 shows in 2023, according to the dance drama's production company, China Oriental Performing Arts Group.

On March 15, the Beijing-based company announced its performing arts season in 2023, which includes dance dramas, musicals and concerts.

"Since its premiere in 2021, Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting has become one of the most popular dance dramas of the country and has been performed nationwide about 240 times," says Jing Xiaoyong, head of China Oriental Performing Arts Group.

The dance drama, choreographed by Han Zhen and Zhou Liya, was inspired by A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains, a classic artwork exhibited at the Palace Museum in Beijing, which was created by artist Wang Ximeng during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) when the artist was 18 years old. It is widely acknowledged to be one of the most important works in the history of Chinese fine art. The 11-meter-long scroll painting is a record of people's lives and the natural scenery of that time, mixing realism with creative imagination. There are mountains, rivers, villages, ports, temples and pavilions. The painting is housed at the museum.

One of the most recognized movements in the dance piece is the graceful but demanding backbend pose by the female dancers who symbolize the majestic scenery of the country's mountains depicted in the painting.

"There are many young audience members traveling along with us during the tour and they not only enjoy the dance drama but also are in love with traditional Chinese culture," says dancer Meng Qingyang, who plays the leading role in the dance drama and receives applause from the audience with her solid techniques onstage.

In 2023, the company will also tour with its original Chinese musical, Teacher Guimei, based on the real story of Zhang Guimei, founder and principal of the first free high school for girls in China, who was presented with the July 1 Medal by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in 2021.