The Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts reached a milestone on April 4 with the 50th show of its original folk dance drama inspired by "Dream of the Red Chamber," one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.

Planned by Jiangsu Cultural Investment Group, the drama has attracted nearly 100,000 audiences in the past 20 months with shows held in 12 theaters across 11 cities.

Based on in-depth study of the younger generation's preferences and expectations, the performance explores the culture and art that defined China from multiple perspectives, thus winning market recognition.

After a show at the Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts in August, the drama will be performed in Tianjin, Beijing, Changsha, Wuhan, Quanzhou, Nanchang, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Ningbo, Wuxi, Changzhou and other cities in the second half of the year.

"With the joint efforts of artists, the folk dance drama has successfully achieved creative transformation and innovative development of a traditional theme, conveying traditional culture and aesthetic in contemporary ways," said Liao Yi, general manager of the Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts.

Liao also said the performance not only completes the interpretation of traditional culture, from ancient times to the present, but also becomes an example of exploring a dialogue between dance drama and classic literature.