Wing Chun wows audience during European tour

Wing Chun, a unique Chinese dance drama integrating traditional martial arts and contemporary performing arts, took the United Kingdom and France by storm during its European tour from late August to early October last year.

A production of Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theater Company in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, the dance drama tells the story of Ip Man, the legendary master of Wing Chun, a renowned school of Southern Chinese martial arts characterized by its close-range combat techniques, quick strikes, and strategic use of force.

Since its domestic debut in late 2022 and its first overseas tour in September 2023 in Singapore, this work, embodying the core of China's traditional culture through a fusion of dance and kung fu, has staged over 280 sold-out performances worldwide.

When it came to the UK in August last year, it stood out from among more than 30 other well-established plays being performed concurrently in London. Tickets for evening shows were almost sold out.

As the thrilling martial arts duel between five masters concluded on stage, prolonged cheers and applause erupted in London's Sadler's Wells Theater, a common scene during the overseas tour of the dance drama.

Performers from the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theater company take a bow after the UK premiere of Wing Chun at London's Sadler's Wells theater on Aug 30, 2024. GUO JINBIAO FOR CHINA DAILY

The Britain's Guardian newspaper hailed it as "a cinematic celebration of kung fu masters on a magnificent stage", while The Times praised it for "merging the elegance of dance with the power of martial arts".

Additionally, the dance drama was listed as "the most worth-watching dance performance in London 2024" by Britain's Radio Times magazine.

Dancers perform during the UK premiere of Wing Chun at London's Sadler's Wells theater on Aug 30, 2024. ZHOU HONGSHENG FOR CHINA DAILY

Jean-Noel Detais, head of the Palais des Congres de Paris, said: "Wing Chun is promoted and operated entirely under market-oriented mechanisms, which fully demonstrates the professional standards of the production team."

Hong Kong-born choreographer and opera director Caroline Chao called it "stunning ... beautiful, fluid, seamlessly combining dance with martial arts into one brilliant whole".

In the opinion of Han Zhen, co-director of Wing Chun, the core of the work's success lies in the power of emotional resonance. "The growth and perseverance of ordinary characters in the drama are universal emotions transcending national borders, and this spiritual core will not be diminished by language barriers."

When the dance drama moved to France in October 2024, it sparked a wave of "China fever" during its three-day tour in Paris.

The audience, which included figures from the French literary, political and business circles, erupted into applause several times at the Palais des Congres, where Wing Chun was staged, with spectators giving standing ovations and capturing the exhilarating moments on their smartphones.

Lucy Lee, CEO and producer of a French production company responsible for the Paris tour of the dance drama, said: "The best way to establish a cultural brand in Western countries is through commercial performances, which are also the true test of an artistic work. Only a successful commercial performance signifies that it has been accepted by international audiences."

"From the feedback of local audiences and mainstream media outlets, it is evident that French audiences are very interested in Wing Chun," she noted.

Peter Fenech, chairman of the Mediterranean Conference Center and National Theater of Malta, expressed his willingness to introduce it to his country after watching the performance in Paris.

Jean Nouvel, winner of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize, shared his praise after watching the performance, noting that Wing Chun involved various aspects of Chinese tradition and culture, which are being spread globally, and that its birthplace, Shenzhen, is a city full of creativity.

Dance KOL Akamz, with more than 24.3 million followers on the social media platform TikTok, said the dance drama offered him deeper insights into kung fu and its characters.

Athena Sofia, a French fashion influencer with some 80,000 Instagram followers, praised the stunning costumes of Wing Chun, highlighting how well they enhanced the dancers' movements. Sofia also mentioned that she loved all the female characters and felt the powerful energy they conveyed through the performance.

Wing Chun, which has toured more than 38 domestic and overseas cities, is being recognized in the international performance market and is a strong tool for promoting cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.