Beijing's theater-goers are returning to the theaters after their summer holidays and are being greeted by diverse performances.

Competing with the coming of the Backstreet Boys and the Secret Garden from abroad, and several pop gigs by Hong Kong and Taiwan stars in September, the China Central Nationalities Song and Dance Ensemble will stage a gala show called "Heaven, Earth and Auspicious Clouds" at Poly Theater from September 9 to 12.

Directed by Ding Wei, the show, as the title indicates, highlights the balance between heaven and the earth, between nature and the human beings.

"We try to express the love for life, for nature and for peace," says Ding.

More than 130 ethnic performers participate in the show including some popular artists such as Dedema and Tenger from Inner Mongolia, Qubi Arwu from the Yi ethnic group and Wu Tong of the Manchu minority.

Part of the music and dance numbers are original, rich in folk flavor. Many ethnic communities are gifted in dance and music -- as if it flows through their veins.

"They have creative choreography and dance in a terrific natural way. You can feel something when they dance that you could never get from academically-trained dancers," says Ding.

The humai is another typical example. It is a unique singing style of Mongolia. Originally, the Mongolian people produced such special sounds to imitate or frighten the animals encountered during their nomadic wonderings. Now it has been developed into a unique tune.

As with most of these kind of shows, some programs are re-arranged in a style that today's audience are familiar with. For example, Tibetan dance is combined with Hip-Hop beats, and the Uygur music features jazz.

It is a subjective view as to whether the sound is good or bad. But this is a trend for many producers to package and sell a show.

Li Juan, general manager of VMENG Arts&Culture Company which produces the show, says: "A totally primitive or totally high-tech show would not attract today's audience. The combination is preferred."

She revealed that the special effect produced by high-tech equipment add to the realism, helping a brook to appear in full flow on stage when the choir sing about a mountain stream, and uncountable flowers cover the stage when the Yi dancers perform "Rosy Clouds."

"Fresh and beautiful" is the comment from Bei Yujie, president of the Central Nationalities Song and Dance Ensemble. He is confident that the production will be a feast for the audience.

Established in 1952 and based in Beijing, the Central Nationalities Song and Dance Ensemble has gathered dancers and musicians from 37 ethnic groups.

In the past half a century, it has been engaged in collecting folk dance and music of the ethnic minorities.

Every year, the ensemble spends the better part of a year traveling to minority-populated areas. It has also toured more than 100 countries in Asia, Africa, America and Europe.

Most of the senior members in the ensemble were discovered in the minority regions. Today, many are ethnic students learning dance and music in the Central University of Nationalities.

(China Daily September 7, 2004)