Focus of The Heart
ballet music by: Andrew Thomas with original story by: Howard L. Kessler
Beijing Dance Academy, Beijing, People's Republic of China

 

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Act: 1

Prologue Tableau

Focus of the Heart Opening Tableau

It is the late 70s.
The end of a
revolution in China

Act-1

Scene-1

Village House

Focus of the Heart Village House
Niece Opening
'Uncle', a shung musician, with flute, erhu, & two pipa musicians keep their music alive. 'Niece' learnes traditional dance by a former professional dancer.
Traditional Chinese: sheng; a mouth organ, erhu; a two stringed violin, pipa, a Chinese guitar.
Erhu & Flute Players
Pipa Players
Traditional Teacher First

Act-1

Scene-2

Village Festival

 

 

 

 

 

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Act-1

Scene-3

Village House

 

 

 

 

 

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Act-1

Scene-4

Final

 

Duck Vendor
Candy Vendor

It is the early 80s.
Traditional arts reawaken.
Dancers, musicians, and merchants enliven a village festival.
Officials & Ballet Teacher see Niece & her teacher dance the Echo Dance.

 

 

 

 

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Uncle & Niece are joyful following their festival performances.
Officials & Ballet Teacher arrive and convince Uncle & Niece to move and perform in the city.

 

 

 

 

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Uncle & Niece reluctantly leave the village to begin their new lives.

Yao Minority Female Dong Minority Males
Dong Minority Female 1 Miao Minority Niece Teacher Duet
Toy Vendor
Lantern Vendor
Village Men
Village Women
Village Dancers Men
Village Dancers Women
Village Musicians
Echo Dance Costumes
Official 1
Official two
Act One Ballet Teacher

Pre-Act-2

The Pianist
The Pianist Dabbles

Act-2

Scene-1

Dance Studio

 

Ballet Class Men
Ballet Class Women
Mid 90s, during a break in class Uncle shows off his new silver sheng. He gets Niece to dance traditionally as he plays. He is dazzled by how much more beautifully she performs the folk dances. Ballet teacher has him leave.
Teacher Dance Class
Uncle in Performance Coat
Act: 2 Scene: 2
Uncle in Apartment
Neice in Apartment
Niece apologies for the ballet teacher. Uncle tells her how moved he was to see her dance. She is unhappy. He smiles. He has a secrete idea.

Act-2

Scene-2

City Apartment

Niece in Ballet
Before a ballet performance Niece dances in front of a mirror. She sees herself as a child. She longs for the passion she had dancing with the traditional teacher while Uncle and friends performed.

Act-2

Scene-4

Ballet

Ballet Men
Ballet Women
The staged ballet is performed featuring the niece.
Male Solo

Act-2

Scene-5

Dressing Room

Traditional Teacher Backstage
Ballet Teacher Studio
Uncle surprises Niece with the Traditional teacher's visit. Ballet teacher is patronizing to her. Niece danced the folk dances with the training of ballet. Her performance shows the best of skill, tradition, and passion.

Act-2

Scene-6

Fusion Dance

Fusion Dancers Women
Fusion Dancers Men
A fusion dance is performed with great power and joy.
Fusion Dancers Niece

Act-2

Final

Uncle Last
Niece Last
Completing the circle, Uncle watches Niece begin to teach a child how to dance as the curtain falls.
Young Girl Last