China Jinling Dance Comapny Presents THE PEONY PAVILION 1/5-8, 2012

The United States premiere of a new dance drama production, "The Peony Pavilion" by the China Jinling Dance Company of Nanjing will be performed at the David H. Koch Theater (Lincoln Center) January 5 - 8, 2012. It is presented by The China Arts & Entertainment Group (CAEG), a creative enterprise under the administration of the Ministry of Culture for the People's Republic of China. The engagement is the first production of what is hoped to be an ongoing relationship between CAEG and the David H. Koch Theater. These presentations will showcase China's historical contribution to the world of theater and art by presenting the finest in Chinese contemporary and classical performing arts to the United States. The production of "The Peony Pavilion" in New York City is made possible in part by the generous support of American Airlines.

"The Peony Pavilion" tells a story about forbidden love, written by Tang Xianzu, and first performed in 1598 as Kunqu opera during the Ming Dynasty. This NYC engagement marks the first time the elaborate dance drama is performed outside of China. The Nanjing PLA Performing Arts Group (later renamed the China Jinling Dance Company) was originally founded in 1955. "The Peony Pavilion" was first performed as a dance drama in 2008, winning several awards the following year including best director, composition, and stage design. The lavish theatrical production is presented with bold and visually stunning scenes, complex and demanding choreography, ornate and elaborate costumes, with each scene pieced beautifully together. Audiences are drawn into the fantasy and intense love courtship of Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei in this unique production of this classic story.

In 1999, the Lincoln Center staged a historic 19-hour epic version of Tang Xianzu's Peony Pavilion directed by Chen Shizheng and starring Qian Yi as Du Liniang. This 19-hour version was staged in its entirety for the first time in over 200 years and spurred an interest in the full opera beyond a few celebrated episodes. This Lincoln Center version toured extensively around the world.

The China Arts and Entertainment Group (CAEG), the first large state-owned cultural enterprise, was inaugurated after the merger of the China Performing Arts Agency (CPAA) and the China International Exhibition Agency, as a major step to transform Chinese culture and art institutions into modern enterprises. They are under the auspice of the Ministry of Culture, undertaking cultural exchange projects to promote and enhance Chinese culture in other countries. CAEG annually runs more than 5,000 shows, exhibitions and comprehensive cultural activities in hundreds of cities, regions, and in countries around the world, with yearly audiences of more than 10 million.
American Airlines has a mission and commitment to "bridge cultures." Yearly, American Airlines sponsors activities in China and the United States that support Chinese organizations, groups and people. From Chinese New Year parades in New York and Chicago, to aiding cultural institutions and fine arts societies, American Airlines and its employees lend resources and time to provide a bridge between the Chinese and American cultures.

Performances of "The Peony Pavilion" by the China Jinling Dance Company of Nanjing will be Thursday, January 5; Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7 at 8:00 pm and on Sunday, January 9 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are for the Orchestra and also the First ring at: $149, $119, $75, $49 and $25. The Second ring is $119, $79, $39 and $19. Tickets sales are available at (212) 496-0600; or by Fax at (212) 580-2545 and on the web. http://davidhkochtheater.com/

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