It was the first time that Yang Liping went beyond being just a dancer -- taking on the roles of a director and choreographer. She successfully added the most traditional, contemporary, humane and divine elements into the work. To leave an unprecedented impression on the audiences, she spent several years finding some 60 villagers who are natural born singers and dancers to join the performance.
After the overwhelming success of "Dynamic Yunnan", Yang Liping came back in November 2007 with a Tibetan song and dance show called "Tibetan Riddle".
Yang said, "We have Tibetans in Yunnan's Shangri-la. They are living at an area over 3000 meters above sea level. I am crazy for Tibetan culture and art. To me Tibetan songs and dances are very symbolic and classical."
"Tibetan Riddle" was the result of years of hard work of Yang and Tibetan singer Rongzhongerjia. It tells the story of an old Tibetan woman's experiences on her way to a pilgrimage and presents a panoramic view of Tibetan culture.
The extravaganza stages Tibetan people's daily lives, folk customs, religious beliefs, and celebrations in different habitats. Many of the performers are nomads.
The amateur performers deeply impressed Yang Liping and that's why she has recruited villager actors in her latest "Sound of Yunnan". They can imitate all the natural sounds by using ordinary items. The sound of Yunnan is the ovation of life, and the homage to all the cultures and arts that have nourished the people for generations and generations.
(CCTV May 25, 2009)
