“Without the opera element, errenzhuan is not errenzhuan,” says Yin Quanlin, who founded Little Peony in 2000. Though heavy on thumping modern pop beats, the performances are sprinkled with bursts of the traditional opera, too. In a brightly lit room, they stand in front of a computer livestreaming playful acts to a few hundred viewers online. But with its popularity waning, institutions like Little Peony are attempting to pass down the errenzhuan tradition to youth.Įvery evening inside a classroom in Qiujiagou Village, nestled amid the cornfields two hours from provincial capital Shenyang, a group of students perform errenzhuan - but with a modern twist. Known for its witty, relatable narratives, the traditional opera was once so popular that locals skipped meals to enjoy errenzhuan, according to an ancient proverb.

LIAONING, Northeast China - The Little Peony Errenzhuan Art School is teaching a few dozen students about a 300-year-old art form, in hopes that it will find a new audience among the younger generation.Įrrenzhuan, which translates as “song-and-dance duet,” exemplifies the rustic entertainment of China’s northeast.

Ancient chinese opera