About the Programme

This dance drama's concept of Five Stars Rising in the East is inspired by a piece of Han dynasty brocade armguard unearthed from the ancient Niya cultural relics site in Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang. The woven pattern of the armguard reveals characters that read 'Five stars rising in the East are auspicious signs for the Central Plain'. This magnificent artefact, designated as a National Class One Cultural Relic, has prompted the creation of this dance drama which tells the story of a Han dynasty general named Feng being stationed at the western border. He befriends Jiante, son of the leader of the Northern State, and Chunjun, daughter of the leader of the Jingjue State. Despite the initial animosity that leads to conflicts, the three eventually join hand to rebuild the city wall.

List of Creative Team and Performers

About the Art Group

Established in 1978, Beijing Dance Drama and Opera (formerly known as the Beijing Song and Dance Troupe) was restructured in 2004 through a corporatisation process as Beijing Dance Drama & Opera Limited and came under the Beijing Performance and Arts Group as one of its nine performing arts companies. It is also the only professional performing group specialised in song and dance performance under the administration of the Beijing municipal government. It has produced many award-winning productions including dance drama The Way to the Sky and Five Stars Rising from the East. It has also been invited to participate cultural exchange events and has performed in more than 30 countries and regions.