Chinese dance drama depicts ancient Silk Road story

A dance drama called "An Individual Soliloquy" was staged in the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing on Friday, Sept 14, 2018. [Photo provided to China Plus]

A new dance drama called "An Individual Soliliquay" premiered in Beijing over the weekend.

It features collaboration between Chinese dancer-choreographer Wang Yabin and artists from the UK, France, and Japan.

This latest work by the Chinese star tells the story of Buddhist monk and scholar Kumarajiva, who was born in the 4th century and is famous for translating Buddhist texts into Chinese.

A dance drama called "An Individual Soliloquy" was staged in the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing on Friday, Sept 14, 2018. [Photo provided to China Plus]

Kumarajiva (鸠摩罗什) - a princess of the ancient Kucha, which lies in present-day Aksu prefecture in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region - traveled to Liangzhou, Gansu province, and later to Xi'an, Shaanxi province through the trading networks of the ancient Silk Road.

Since 2009, Wang Yabin has produced a dance piece every year, gathering more than 200 artists from around the world to join her project "Yabin and Her Friends."