Cultural icon

"I first got invited to participate in Poetic Dance: Dongpo back in November 2021. It was a great honor to direct the stage production, which is about ancient poet Su Dongpo, but I turned it down because I knew it would be difficult to turn his life and achievements into one dance piece," recalls Shen.

Poet Su Shi, also known as Su Dongpo, of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), is one of the most recognized Chinese cultural icons of all time. His legacy, including his calligraphy, painting and his broad influence in various fields, as well as his poetry, is celebrated even today.

The Ancestral Temple of the Three Sus in the center of the city of Meishan, Sichuan province, where Su was born, is a popular site nowadays. The temple, which was the former home of literary masters Su Xun and his two sons, Su Shi and Su Zhe, was transformed into a memorial site and museum.

"I have always loved Su Dongpo ever since I was a child. I love his poems, calligraphy and painting. I feel connected to him," says Shen, adding that one of his favorite lines of Su Dongpo's poems is "home is where my heart settles".

Though he said no to the invitation, Shen was still intrigued by the project. After rounds of negotiation, he decided to give it a try.