Reviews

The dance drama The Moon Opera is impeccable. I experienced such a range of emotions when I saw it, and I thought it was exceptionally perfect.

Bi Feiyu, author of the original novel

I was amazed by Wang Yabin's dance theatre The Moon Opera. Yabin's dance, from choreography to performance is clean, sharp, skillful and smooth!

Tian Qinxin, director

I really enjoyed the show this season and Yabin is really a superb dancer. It's a world-class show.

Charles Rinehart, president, American Dance Festival

About The Moon Opera

Xiao Yanqiu was a famed actress, playing the role of moon goddess Chang'e in a classical Peking Opera piece – but an incident with her teacher leads to her expulsion from the company and assignment to a training school. In a period of despair, she meets a humble, warm-hearted traffic policeman, whom she marries to live a life far different from the life of stardom she had long trained for.

Two decades later, a new student, Chun Lai, reminds her of the passion she felt when she was young. She pours her energy into Chun Lai's training, cultivating her into a great performer of our time playing Chang'e. At the same time, she has been preparing for her own return to the same role, funded by the boss of a local tobacco factory. But Xiao Yanqiu becomes pregnant, and the boss's lust and greed shifts to her student, Chun Lai, who is picked to play the role instead. Xiao Yanqiu feels like she is on a cliff's edge.

On the night of the show's premiere, a snowy moonlit night, Xiao Yanqiu feels like she is flying towards the moon with Chang'e.

Credits

Adapted from the novel by Bi Feiyu

Choreographer/Director/Producer/Artistic Director: Wang Yabin

Playwright: Zhuang Yi

Choreography Consultant: Fan Lei

Peking Opera Consultant: Pei Yanling

Artistic Consultants: Wang Chuanliang, Guo Lei

Visual Consultant: Ren Dongsheng

Cast: Wang Yabin, Zhang Yapeng, Tang Qiqi, Peng Ying, Li Shuai, Wei Xuan, Liu Jiazheng, Li Jiaying

Lighting Design: Willy Cessa (FR)

Set Design: Matt Deely (UK)

Costume Design: Kimie Nakano (JP)

Composers: Guo Sida, Olga Wojciechowska (PL)

Modeling Design: Wang Jia

Dramatic Consultant/Imager: Helene Guetary (FR)

Sound Design: Shan Xiaolin

Sound Operator：Zhang Xiaochen

Stage Manager: Jia Chaoqi

Lighting Operator: Yin Jiayu, Xu Chuanwei

Costume/Makeup Supervisor: Chang Le

Projection Operator: Yan Boseng

Project Manager: Zhang Zhihao

Creation & Production: Yabin Studio

About Yabin Wang

Wang Yabin is a dancer, a national-level actress, a performer of the Beijing Dance Academy Youth Dance Company, the artistic director of Yabin Dance Studio, and a member of the Board of Directors of the China Dance Artists Association.

She has won gold medals for her performances at major national dance competitions in China, and has created the "Yabin and Her Friends" artistic performance series. She has been recognized by Knack Focus magazine as "one of the most important dancers in Asia." Her representative works in dance theater include Growing, The Moon Opera, A Dream - As It Is, The World, etc.

About Yabin Studio

Founded in 2009, Yabin Studio is dedicated to creating and producing dance, drama and other stage performances. It gathers artists of excellence and cross-discipline talent to create quality work, and develops a platform for the best in the field of art to collaborate and exchange. Yabin Studio is a place for creativity and expression.