Libretto of the Ballet Performance Dunhuang / The Light of Heart in its Online Programs and Internet Video Recordings

Abstract

The article is devoted to the original large-scale ballet performance, which became a symbol of the national Chinese ballet of the early 21st century. Using the method of content analysis of Internet sources, namely electronic programs and video recordings of ballet performances from different years, information is revealed that is significant for understanding the concept and the chronicle of the creation of the ballet libretto. A general textual characteristic of the libretto of the ballet Dunhuang (the same is The Light of Heart) is given, the reasons and some consequences of the constant revisions of the libretto texts by the librettist are analyzed. The authors come to the conclusion that the ideological content of the production, set out in the libretto, echoes religious (Buddhist) and philosophical-axiological (about virtue in the Chinese value system) meanings that are important for the Chinese public.