The dance drama Lotus tells a story about how a sculpture craftsman of Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang is inspired and touched by the truth, kindness and beauty symbolized by the lotus flower and how he creates a colour sculputure masterpiece.. Xiaogang Zhao, the choreographer and director, has borrowed and adapted the exquisite body and movement depictions from the Dunhuang frescoes, colorful murals and sculpture, and vividly put these into the dance, showing how the craftsman takes the sculpture with him along his journey in the quest of the origin of life, praising the earnest pursuit and desire of the origins of truth, kindness and beauty by humanity  Albeit a tough and long journey, he is fearless and carries it all the way to pursuit the sparkles of love. Eventually, he put the sculpture in the Dunhuang caves, and have to wave goodbye to the lotus flower which has already become his life accompany.  

In the dance work, the audience will enjoy a group dance interprets the lotus flower grows up through mud and water. An inspiration draw from the Dunhuang murals brings every member of the audience the beauty and sacredness of the lotus flower by the soft and slowly movements. 

From the perspectives of contemporary audience and with a professional ingenious vision of an artist, the choreographer defines the essence of arts as originating from life yet higher than life and shows the delicate relationship of “belonging yet beyond” between the art creation and its creator.

Xianwuren Theatre is a performance group composed of many young dancers. It was co-founded by the young choreographers and directors Zhao Xiaogang and Zhang Yunfeng in 2009, professional in creating Chinese Dance, performing and organizing cultural and artistic training. Lotus had its tour in more than 30 cities in China. It was invited to perform in 2015 National Theatre Dance Festival, and has won the 2015 National Arts Fund.