The Application Of Guangdong Music Elements In The "Sha Wan Past"

Dance Drama The Past of Shawan was initiated by the Publicity Department of Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Culture Department of Guangdong Province, and produced by Guangdong Song and Dance Theatre as one of their key productions. The drama is based on the lives and love stories of classical Cantonese music composers who created musical works such as “Dragon Boat Races” and “Rain Pattering on Plantain Leaves”. It deals with their passion for classical Cantonese music and the responsibility of passing it on to the next generation. By presenting the beauty and charm of classical Cantonese music, this dance drama reveals Chinese musicians to be perseverant and strong in spirit.The author, as the executive director of this dance drama, is lucky to have the opportunity to listen and feel the hearts of these foremost Cantonese composers, and to talk about their stories via the art of dance.Chen Wei-Ya, the mentor of the author used to said: the priority goal of a dance drama is to build up the characters. It is always about the characters. Only genuine emotion of a vivid character can touch the audience, and every character should be distinctive in their own ways in the purpose of an intact story.The Past of Shawan talks about the stories of musicians via dancing. A great amount of classical Cantonese music element is used to serve the story, to create the image of each character and to deliver their emotion. Combining these musical elements with body language thus creates a unique style of dancing, which shows the various integration features of Cantonese culture. This is a work of art in praise of the spirit of classical Cantonese musicians.