Michelle Qiao/Shanghai Daily news

“Shaolin in the Wind” by the Zhengzhou Song and Dance Ensemble of Henan Province tries to create a new art form that blends martial arts and contemporary dance.

Another Shaolin kung fu-inspired show is on its way to Shanghai. But "Shaolin in the Wind" is not just about kung fu. It's a melange of kung fu, dancing and fabulous settings plus a touching love story.
Nearly 60 dancers and 35 "monks" will be running all over a grand "mountain" which is an astonishing backdrop onstage. The centerpiece is a gigantic sculpture of a Buddha head. Actors will present a dance that resembles Chinese martial arts in flying autumn leaves.
This dance theater by the recently established Zhengzhou Song and Dance Ensemble of Henan Province became an instant hit after its opening show in the Beijing Poly Theater last June.
Now the ensemble has packed 10 trucks with 293 props and nearly 1,000 costumes to re-create a grand temple in the Shanghai Grand Theater. They've also cut the original 145-minute version to 117 minutes for the Shanghai shows.
"Shaolin has been stereotyped as only being about kung fu fighting," says playwright Feng Shuangbai, who is also deputy chairman of China Dancers' Association. "Shaolin culture is a combination of kung fu, Zen and traditional Chinese medicine. We try to create a new art form that blends martial arts and contemporary dance."
Feng and his colleague Huang Haibi have lived in the Shaolin Temple, joined a Buddhist seminar there and talked with monks to gain a deeper understanding of Shaolin culture.
"We met a senior monk living in a cave in the mountains," recalls Feng. "His bed was a green-hued stone and he slept under only a thin quilt in winter. A giant snake often lay down alongside him for warmth.
"When we asked him the essence of Shaolin culture, he smiled. He said he could feel the innermost power of life when flowers blossomed in spring. He also mentioned his love affairs but he had already surpassed these mortal world disturbances."
Perhaps it was this sentimental monk who inspired Feng to write the touching story of scholar Tianyuan who at first knows nothing about martial arts.
Scholar Tianyuan and Susui are deeply in love with one another but are being pursued by invaders. An old monk from the Shaolin Temple saves the severely injured Tianyuan and cures him with magic Shaolin medicine. When the lovers meet again, Susui falls into the hands of the invaders who humiliates and fatally wounds her. The heartbroken Tianyuan returns to the Shaolin Temple and begins to learn martial arts in memory of his beloved. Several years later when the invaders return, Tianyuan leads the Shaolin monks to attack and avenge themselves. Tianyuan finally becomes a respected senior monk.
"To respect the Buddhist religion, we have created a unique dance for the couple - the hero and heroine dance together without touching one another," says Feng.
The whole production costs 15 million yuan (US$1.85 million). Huang says it has attracted the attention of overseas theatrical agents. The ensemble is off to Taiwan and then on to Japan, Europe and the United States from next February.
"Henan Province always impresses people with its local Yuju Opera or with performances on the subject of the Chinese countryside, but we really wanted to create an elegant, first-class dance work," says Huang.
He adds that the ensemble, established last year especially to present "Shaolin in the Wind," will now produce a big dance show annually.
"We are planning another drama named 'The Goddess of Luoshui River'," says Huang.
The drama is inspired by a poem to sing high praise for the goddess of Luoshui River written by an ancient Chinese poet Cao Zhi, whose father was Cao Cao, a leader of the Three Kingdoms (220-280 AD) some 2,000 years ago. Cao Zhi wrote the poem for his sister-in-law, who fell in love with him but was later sentenced to death for doing that. It is said the woman named Zhen Luo became the goddess of the Luoshui River in Henan Province after her death.
"The play 'Shaolin in the Wind' was very masculine and 'The Goddess of Luoshui River' showcases feminine beauty," says Huang. "They will become 'sister dances' for our young, creative ensemble."

Date: November 12-13, 7:15pm
Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 People's Ave
Tickets: 100-500 yuan
Tel: 6272-0310, 6272-3797