China strives to preserve traditional opera in modern era

Observing a Caidiao Opera being performed in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region can be a surreal experience.

Men and women in their 70s or 80s don costumes and make-up to appear as young couples in their 20s, all the while singing at the top of their lungs, sometimes heaving as they run out of breath.

Local Caidiao Opera troupes aren't trying to amuse the audience having the elderly play the young. The once popular tradition now fails to draw young performers and is subsequently facing a huge shortage of actors.

Originating from Guangxi's northern rural areas, the Caidiao Opera, a traditional Chinese opera of the Han people with distinctive ethnic features, boasts a history of roughly 250 years. Reflecting the life stories of ordinary people, the opera was once insanely popular among the public in Guangxi, and was even seen capturing audiences in Southeast Asian countries.

Sadly, as older generations of Caidiao artists retire or pass away, this traditional art is facing a spate of problems that threaten its existence.

"Younger generations show no interests in this art. Some Caidiao troupes offer stable jobs and decent salaries, yet it is very difficult to recruit young people," said Qin Mingde, a 60-year-old Caidiao performer given the title of "inheritor of intangible cultural heritage" by government authorities.

Qin said in the northern part of Guangxi where Caidiao Opera is best preserved, it is difficult to spot young faces at a Caidiao show.

In Guangxi, only one college offers a Caidiao Opera education program, which does not regularly recruit students. Most Caidiao actors are trained via short-term training courses arranged by cultural authorities.

According to Chang Jianjun, president of Guangxi Dramatists Association, there are some 2,000 amateur Caidiao groups in Guangxi's rural areas, and only three professional Caidiao troupes in regional cities.

"With today's diversity of culture programs in the market, Caidiao is losing appeal among its audiences," Chang said.

As urgency for change mounts, China's cultural authorities have taken measures to revive the opera, enlisting it as a state-level intangible cultural heritage in 2006.

Chang Jianjun said Caidiao artists should update scripts, produce Caidiao shows that reflect modern life and renovate artistic conception and stage presentation to survive cutthroat competition.

"Authorities should ramp up efforts to cultivate younger generations for Caidiao Opera," he added.

To keep the culture robust, Caidiao artists are trying to give the traditional art some modern flavors.

In November, Qin Mingde directed a 22-minute micro film featuring Caidiao shows, attempting to draw more attention from younger generations. In Qin's words, micro films are very popular among youngsters these days, and he hopes this new form of Caidiao show can give the opera a boost.

"Caidiao Opera is a precious cultural heritage, and we shoulder the responsibility to pass it on," he said.