The dance drama "Qingming Riverside" is playing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (CNTV)

The dance drama "Qingming Riverside" is playing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (CNTV)

The iconic painting "Riverside scene at Qingming Festival" is one of the most renowned Chinese paintings. The masterpiece comes to life in a dance drama that is playing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

The 5 meter plus long silk scroll painting by Zhang Zeduan, depicts the prosperity during the Qingming festival in today's Kaifeng, capital of the Song Dynasty, about 900 years ago. Qingming festival is a traditional Chinese festival to mourn one's ancestors. Held during spring, it's customary to attend street fairs.

The dance drama "Qingming Riverside" is based on the painting and combines Chinese folk dance with modern dance, poetry, music, video design and costumes. Three main sections of the painting - the countryside, the riverside and the city streets, are featured in 16 scenes. And to give shape to the performance, the director has added the painter Zhang Zeduan to the drama to introduce the background.

Traditional dances dating back to the 12th Century, including boat rowing on land, have been reinterpreted by modern aesthetics.

Artist director Leung Kwok-Shing said, "We use the language of body, the design of the stage and clothing to express the emotions of people in a flourishing age and to create a sense of poetry. I hope this tour can show the world the elegance of Chinese culture."

The "Qingming Riverside" is the most successful production from the Hong Kong Dance Company in recent years. It premiered in Hong Kong in 2007, and was performed during the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. The American debut has been joined by the Guangdong Song and Dance Ensemble.