Mulan is a universal symbol of courage, selflessness and wisdom, says Elly Shu the principal dancer and choreographer from the New York-based Divine Performing Arts Troupe, currently touring Australia with the Chinese New Year Spectacular.
The famous Chinese legend of a gentle woman, who transformed into a warrior to replace her ailing father, is perhaps best known in the West from the popular Disney animation film Mulan.
However, the fundamental essence of Mulan is well beyond the glorified heroism and Hollywood-style romance, says Ms Shu who dances Mulan's character in the Spectacular.
"[Mulan is] kind as a woman and strong as warrior. But she did nothing for herself," explains Ms Shu, highlighting that Mulan's pretence to be a man was merely out of loyalty to her family and to her homeland.
The Beijing Academy of Dance graduate, who is also a renowned choreographer in both China and US, Ms Shu's interpretation of Mulan conveys a strong message.
"I hope that human kind, especially women can learn [from] her character and really make their moral standard higher and higher," she commented, acknowledging that a modern lifestyle forces women to be "just warriors".
Through her performance Ms Shu's flawless precision of movement, which fuses both classical ballet and unique Chinese dance elements, is striking.
The mood of the gentle beginning, complemented by Mulan's long flowing orange dress, is a stark contrast to the forceful war section, where she displays her courage through technically challenging turns and gymnastics-like summersaults.
"It depicts the story quite well, it did not show too much of the romance side. In this one it is more classical of course…in Disney it is more for children and it is a bit more of a comedy," commented Stephanie Rowley from South Sydney after watching the Spectacular. She gave particular praise to Mulan's technical mastery. "I think the acrobatics and the Chinese ballet was superb," said Ms Rowley.
To make a complete circular story, Mulan takes the audience back to her true self. Refusing to accept the emperor's highest bravery award, she returns home to care for her elderly parents.
"For a human beings now days I think they probably can not really have such character, the quality to be the way she was," says Ms Shu, who herself combines graceful feminine elegance with focused determination.
It is precisely the focus that is the key to a good performance. In order to mentally prepare and feel the character, the mind must be empty of everything but the character. There is no room for self, says Ms Shu jokingly.
Yet despite her weightlessness on stage, it's not an easy road behind the scenes for Ms Shu. She describes the Mulan dance as one of the most difficult acts in the entire Spectacular, both physically and mentally.
"Mulan has very high skill. I have to warm up my body every day before I go on, otherwise the skills would not be fulfilled…sometimes after a performance my whole body feels sore…"
The mental challenge lies in concentration for the multiple costume changes, of which there are four. Sometimes there are only four to five seconds to change the outfits. From the audience's point of view, however, these changes appeared seamless.
Having toured more than 29 cities worldwide, the Spectacular aims to create a more complete representation of Chinese art and culture.
"This show tells the pure traditional Chinese arts, and also it tells what the message heavenly life brings to humans, what is the real purity, where is the real art," comments Ms Shu.
The Epoch Times is proud to join with New Tang Dynasty TV and Sound of Hope Radio in co-sponsoring NTDTV's Chinese New Year Spectacular ( http://shows.ntdtv.com. )
Feeds