The Mystery of Tibet

　　Dancer Yang Liping directed and stars in the drama with Tibetan singer Rongzhong Erjia. Following the show "Yunnan Image," Yang is taking on Tibetan dance for the first time, reproducing Tibetan customs and religious ceremonies. Combined with Tibetan music, dance, instruments and costumes, the drama tells the story iof a Tibetan woman, A Ma, who makes a pilgrimage with her little lamb.

　　The Origin of the Name

　　What is the meaning of the name "The Mystery of Tibet"? "We decided to reproduce the Tibetan traditions and cultures through the pilgrimage of A Ma and tried to define the answer to the mystery in the last scene," said leading actor Rongzhong Erjia. "However, it was after the final production that we had realized that what we had done is to reveal merely a small part of the Tibetan culture. And the process of pilgrimage itself was wonderful enough to put the audience into reflection on the meaning of the mystery."

　　All Primitive Folk Songs

　　Music is the first highlight in the show: the folk songs and instrumental performance during the show are all classical Tibetan pieces. Rongzhong Erjia said it is impossible to surpass the classical folk songs which have been sung for thousands of years. Xiao Pang, the show's music supervisor, traveled across Tibet, Sichuan Province, Gansu Province and Yunnan Province to collect the folk songs.

　　Herdsmen as actors

　　There are more than 80 actors on stage, half of whom are herdsmen from Tibet. These non-professional actors were recruited by the troupe in the pastureland to help make the production authentic.

　　A lamb, Cha Cha, is included in the drama. Yang said she saw many pilgrims traveling with donkeys or lambs during her time in Tibet and including the lamb helped make the scenes more realistic.

　　Unique Dance in the Show

　　Yang, celebrated for her "Moonlight Dance" and "Peacock Dance" in "Yunnan Image," performs two solo dances in the show. As a professional dancer, she was amazed to see that the majority of the Tibetan population had dancing experience. The show features unique Tibetan dances, like the Liuxianqin (Chinese guitar) segment, which shows the ability of Tibetan musicians to sing, dance and play an instrument simultaneously.