Review by William Chan
The large-scale contemporary stage production “Dance Drama: Dragon Boat”, created by the Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre, held two performances over the weekend at The Venetian Theatre. I attended the premiere on Saturday and was completely captivated by its innovative approach.
Last year, I had the chance to view several patriotic works celebrating Macau’s 25th Anniversary of its return to the motherland. Unfortunately, many of them lacked originality and were often overly themed, with little room for innovation.
“Dance Drama: Dragon Boat”, however, excels in this respect. The show describes itself as unveiling a new dimension of “revitalising cultural heritage” — blending traditional dragon boat spirit with modern expression, and this description definitely matched what it offered.
The story begins with the Chinese dragon boat team’s loss in the 1980s. It follows a new generation of three athletes from Hong Kong, Shunde and Macau respectively, culminating in their triumphant victory in the latest competition.
While patriotic themes are woven into the narrative, they are presented unobtrusively, seamlessly integrating with modern elements. For example, during a scene showing athletes practising, the background features a traditional red banner bearing the words “团结拼搏 为国争光” (“Unity and Struggle, Glory to the Country”). However, the choreography is distinctly modern, incorporating contemporary dance styles that create a striking contrast with both the setting and storyline.
The production’s elements are broad and diverse. Despite the central focus being on dragon boat racing, the show creatively interweaves different scenes while maintaining momentum. In one such scene, depicting a friendly race, the stage mimics a VR simulator, with dancers wearing headsets and wielding lightsabres to simulate a fierce battle between teams. Cultural elements are also thoughtfully preserved – for instance, before the final race, players share wine, which is then dramatically sprayed into the air, creating a misty, dreamlike atmosphere that symbolises rallying and unity. The head of the dragon boat, central to the entire show, symbolises the team’s cohesion and collective spirit and collected the whole story together.
Another commendable aspect is the show’s playful tone, and its courage to take itself less seriously. The cast occasionally breaks into humorous routines, including a scene where they were taking a shower, mimicking cartoon characters with graceful dancing and eliciting giggles from the audience. The short, briskly paced scenes suit modern audiences with shorter attention spans, yet they are executed with smooth, impressive choreography.
The skill level of the dancers is remarkable, though I regrettably do not have the expertise to comment on their technicality in detail. Nonetheless, their performance and execution definitely elevated the entire production. A final point worth mentioning is how effectively the show balances the themes of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and patriotism. The themes are subtle yet impactful—for example, during the introduction of the Macau athlete, dancers are dressed as lotus flowers, and the background music is adapted to reflect the song “Song of the Seven Sons - Aomen” (七子之歌), celebrating Macau’s identity.
One of my favourite scenes features the Hong Kong dancer, who temporarily leaves the team after being recruited by another country, with an ironically written invitation in English. The storyline depicts his temporary departure due to miscommunications but ultimately his reunion with the team, driven by patriotism and shared passion for dragon boat racing. This beautifully executed narrative blends the personal and collective themes seamlessly.
Lastly, I must extend praise to the music director. Many similar productions rely heavily on traditional Chinese music and instruments, often excessively. In contrast, this show offers a diverse musical palette, avoiding repetition. I particularly appreciated the grand themes featuring electric guitars. The orchestrations are dynamic and thoughtful, using a broad set of instruments and music genres in adequate settings, enhancing the overall experience. The show poster’s traditional style and the somewhat dull opening caught me off guard, but as the performance unfolded, I witnessed one of the most remarkable stage productions in recent years.
This photo taken on Saturday night during the large-scale contemporary stage production “Dance Drama: Dragon Boat” at The Venetian Theatre shows a scene where dancers engage in a virtual reality simulation of dragon boat competition using lightsabres. – Photo: William Chan
Dancers spray wine into the air, creating a misty atmosphere during the performance. - Photos provided by Sands China
