Hot on the heels of the success of the Shenzhen-produced dance drama "Wing Chun," another spectacular dance show embarked on its national tour on Jan. 3, captivating local audiences with three nights of breathtaking performances at the Shenzhen Poly Theater.

Inspired by a historical event depicted in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu Province in Northwest China, "The Reunion of Oasis" is a creation of China's finest performing artists, with dancer Hu Shenyuan serving as the director and choreographer.

The show is scheduled to tour 14 other cities across China, including Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Shenyang, and Nanning, among others.

Zhang Zhaohui, the deputy general manager of Poly Theater Management Co., the exclusive agent for the tour, said that this original dance production aims to uphold Chinese cultural traditions by appealing to a large number of young spectators.

The drama unravels a lesser-known chapter in history. During the late Tang Dynasty (618-907), Zhang Yichao, a military leader governing the Zhazhou region, which is present-day Dunhuang, mobilizes the local populace to overthrow the Tubo governor, reclaiming Zhazhou and its neighboring territories for the Tang Dynasty.

After the successful recapture of Zhazhou following over six decades of Tubo rule, messengers were dispatched to inform the Tang emperor of the victory. The arduous journey of the messenger team to the capital Chang'an (today's Xi'an) began in 851 and lasted nearly three years.

In tribute to the challenging journey of the messengers, Hu and his team dedicated almost three years to create and refine the show, now presented in its second edition. Written by Xu Junrui, with an original score by Lyu Liang, the production stars Hu in the lead role. Gao Guangjian oversees stage set and visual effects design, Gao Jie is the lighting designer, and Li Kun manages costume design. The performances feature the Shenzhen Dance Co., directed by Hu, alongside solo dancers.

This production employs 10 chapters of modern dance to depict the epic voyage of the messengers who traveled a great distance to announce the restoration of Shazhou to the Tang emperor. Bringing various facets of ancient society to life, the dance drama reenacts scenes from the Dunhuang murals, portraying activities such as farmers sowing, farewells, encounters with bandits, and soldiers seeking refuge in a tavern.