Rainbow Phoenix Performing Arts Company presents...
NUTCRACKER IN CHINA
Saturday, January 3
3PM and 7PM
Mountain View Center of Performing Arts
500 Castro St, Mountain View, CA 94041
An original Chinese dance drama that tells a story encompassing 5000 years of China's history and culture. East and West mesh in this tale about the Nutcracker from classical ballet who journeys through the web of seasons and time and discovers the Four Beauties of China (Yang Guifei, Xi Shi, Diao Chan, Wang Zhaojun).
$28 adults, $18 children (12 & under)
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Nutcracker: Structure
Act One
- Tableau I
- No.1 Scene of decorating and lighting the Christmas tree
- No.2 March
- No.3 Little Gallop [of the children] and entry of the parents
- No.4 Scene dansante [Drosselmeyer's arrival and distribution of presents]
- No.5 Scene and dance of the Grandfather
- No.6 Scene [Departure of the guests -- DAYTIME]
- No.7 Scene [the battle]
- Tableau II
- No.8 Scene [a pine forest in winter]
- No.9 Waltz of the Snowflakes
Act Two
- Tableau III
- No.10 Scene [Introduction]
- No.11 Scene [Arrival of Clara and the Prince]
- No.12 Divertissement
- a. Chocolate (Spanish dance)
- b. Coffee (Arabian dance)
- c. Tea (Chinese dance)
- d. Trepak (Russian Dance)
- e. Dance of the Mirlitons [also known as "Dance of the Reed-Flutes," "Dance of the Shepherdesses," and "Marzipan"]
- f. Mother Ginger and the clowns [or "Mother Ginger and her children"]
- No.13 Waltz of the Flowers [featuring the "Dew Drops" in Balanchine's production]
- No.14 Pas de Deux: Adagio (Sugar-Plum Fairy and a cavalier)
- Variation I (for the male dancer) [Tarantella]
- Variation II (for the female dancer) [Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy]
- Coda
- No.15 Final Waltz and Apotheosis
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Side Stories
Xi Shi's Beauty 西施沉鱼
When Xi Shi was washing silk beside the river, her shadow on the surface of the river so so attractive, the fish forgot to swim when they saw her shadow and they sank to the bottom of the river. Thus, Xi Shi was named "so beautiful as to make fish sink" (西施沉鱼).
Xi Shi and Dong Shi 西施和东施
There is a story about a girl named Dong Shi as the opposite of Xi Shi (Dong = East, Xi = West). One time, Dong Shi saw Xi Shi frowning from chest pain, and she decided that she too would frown like Xi Shi. However, while everyone thought that Xi Shi looked lovely, everyone thought that Dong Shi looked ugly. Only Xi Shi was beautiful both when smiling and frowning.
Wang Zhao Jun's Beauty 昭君落雁
The day Wang Zhao Jun left her homeland, she played the pipa sorrowfully. The geese forgot to fly and fell to the ground when they heard the sweet song of the beautiful woman on the horse. Thus, Wang Zhao Jun is described as being "so beautiful as to make flying geese fall" (昭君落雁).
Diao Chan's Beauty 貂蝉闭月
It is said that, while Diao Chan was praying to the moon in Wang Yun's garden, a breeze brought the clouds to cover the moon. Wang Yun said that Diao Chan was so beautiful, even the moon hid when it sensed her. Thus, she is said to be "so beautiful as to make the moon hide behind the clouds" (貂蝉闭月).
Yang Gui Fei's Beauty 贵妃羞花
During her sadness from leaving home, Gui Fei took a walk in the garden. When she saw that the flowers were all in full bloom, she cried, "Flowers, you open every year. When will my time come?" When she touched the flowers, they shrank instantly. Thus, she is called There was a beautiful girl named Yang Yuhuan who was selected into the palace in Tang Dynasty. She missed home very much after her entering the palace. One day, She took a walk in the garden and felt distressed when she saw the peonies and roses were all in blossom. She said sadly to the flowers: “Flowers, flowers, you open every year but when will my good time come? And the flowers shrank instantly when she touched them. So she is also called “making flowers feel shameful” (贵妃羞花).
When Xi Shi was washing silk beside the river, her shadow on the surface of the river so so attractive, the fish forgot to swim when they saw her shadow and they sank to the bottom of the river. Thus, Xi Shi was named "so beautiful as to make fish sink" (西施沉鱼).
Xi Shi and Dong Shi 西施和东施
There is a story about a girl named Dong Shi as the opposite of Xi Shi (Dong = East, Xi = West). One time, Dong Shi saw Xi Shi frowning from chest pain, and she decided that she too would frown like Xi Shi. However, while everyone thought that Xi Shi looked lovely, everyone thought that Dong Shi looked ugly. Only Xi Shi was beautiful both when smiling and frowning.
Wang Zhao Jun's Beauty 昭君落雁
The day Wang Zhao Jun left her homeland, she played the pipa sorrowfully. The geese forgot to fly and fell to the ground when they heard the sweet song of the beautiful woman on the horse. Thus, Wang Zhao Jun is described as being "so beautiful as to make flying geese fall" (昭君落雁).
Diao Chan's Beauty 貂蝉闭月
It is said that, while Diao Chan was praying to the moon in Wang Yun's garden, a breeze brought the clouds to cover the moon. Wang Yun said that Diao Chan was so beautiful, even the moon hid when it sensed her. Thus, she is said to be "so beautiful as to make the moon hide behind the clouds" (貂蝉闭月).
Yang Gui Fei's Beauty 贵妃羞花
During her sadness from leaving home, Gui Fei took a walk in the garden. When she saw that the flowers were all in full bloom, she cried, "Flowers, you open every year. When will my time come?" When she touched the flowers, they shrank instantly. Thus, she is called There was a beautiful girl named Yang Yuhuan who was selected into the palace in Tang Dynasty. She missed home very much after her entering the palace. One day, She took a walk in the garden and felt distressed when she saw the peonies and roses were all in blossom. She said sadly to the flowers: “Flowers, flowers, you open every year but when will my good time come? And the flowers shrank instantly when she touched them. So she is also called “making flowers feel shameful” (贵妃羞花).
Notes on Yang Gui Fei
YANG GUI FEI 杨贵妃
a.k.a. Yang Yu Huan 杨玉环
719-756BC
Descriptions:
- possessing a hundred charms, jade-like body, frail and lovely
- made the powdered ladies of the palaces seem dull and colorless
- hair like a cloud, face like a flower, moth-like eybrows
- loved lychees
Background:
- daughter of Yang Xuan Yan, census official in Si Chuan who died early in Yu Huan's life; she was raised in the household of uncle Yang Xuan Gui
- sent to work as a lady-in-waiting at the Emperor's palace
Related Characters:
- 18th Prince Li Mao 寿王李瑁
- Emperor Tang Xuan Zong 唐玄宗 (a.k.a. Li Long Ji 李隆基/Tang Ming Huang 唐明皇)
- Older Brother Yang Guo Zhong 杨国忠
- Turkish General An Lu Shan 安禄山
Story:
- At age 16, Gui Fei was married to the Emperor's 18th son, Shou Wang Li Mao. After Xuan Zong met her, he sent Gui Fei to a nunnery for two years, then made her his concubine afterward.
- The emperor spent all of his time with her. Xuan Zong neglected his court.
- Yang Gui Fei's older brother Yang Guo Zhong was a corrupt official. Turkish General An Lu Shan saw this corruption throughout the court and tried to bring it to the Emperor's attention, but the Emperor did not believe Lu Shan. Gui Fei actually gave much favor to the Turkish general, since he was the only general who could bring lychees to her quickly enough that they were still fresh.
- Guo Zhong provoked Lu Shan into retaliating against the Tang dynasty.
- They fled as far as Ma Wei Yi in Shaanxi Province, where the soldiers refused to march and demanded that Yang Gui Fei and her brother die.
- Xuan Zong had to watch the execution of Yang Gui Fei, whom the common people hated, believing that she damaged the country. He wept with sorrow. Eventually he abdicated the throne.
Notes on Diao Chan
DIAO CHAN 貂蝉
c. 169 AD
Descriptions:
- not found in official history books
Background:
- singing girl of Wang mansion
- went to the Wang mansion as a young child
Related Characters:
- Prime Minister Wang Yun 王允
- Tyrant Dong Zhuo 董卓
- General Lv Bu 吕布
Story:
- Wang Yun explains to Diao Chan that the tyrant Dong Zhuo is trying to take over the world. Wang Yun wants Diao Chan to help him turn Dong Zhuo's adopted son Lv Bu against Dong Zhuo. Diao Chan, who regards Wang Yun as a father, agrees.
- Wang Yun presents Diao Chan to Dong Zhuo as a concubine while presenting her as a wife to Lv Bu. Both fall in love with Diao Chan, who tries additionally to make the two men jealous of each other.
- Lv Bu helps Wang Yun assassinate Dong Zhuo.
- Some say that Wang Yun and Diao Chan were killed; other sources say that Diao Chan and Lv Bu fell in love and ran off, though they were killed in this story as well.
Reorganized from this source.
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