The theater lights had yet to dim when a male dancer wearing traditional Chinese clothes from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) appeared among the audience, bowing respectfully and immersing them in the era.

As the lights gradually dimmed, the dancer took to the stage, flying a paper kite against the backdrop of an image of Zhengyang Gate, or Qianmen, which fully filled the back of the stage set.

That's the beginning scene of the original Chinese dance drama Weiwei Zhengyang, or Zhengyang Gate, which premiered at the theater of the Beijing Dance Academy on Sunday. From Thursday to Saturday, the dance drama is being staged at Poly Theater in Beijing.