Ancient Meets Avant-Garde: Du Yun’s New Show Spotlights Jino Heritage
Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Du Yun is set to take her latest musical theater production, ‘The Ocean Etched in the Forest’, to the U.S. after its Beijing premiere captivated audiences. The work shines a light on the Jino ethnic group, one of China’s smallest officially recognized communities, blending their centuries-old traditions with bold modern artistry. 🎭
🌿 Preserving Culture Through Sound
Du, a Shanghai-born innovator, spent months in Yunnan Province collaborating with Jino cultural inheritors. Her immersive research inspired a fusion of the group’s iconic ‘big drum dance’ and ritual music with experimental theater—a response to modernization challenges facing minority cultures. 🥁
✨ Why It Matters
‘This isn’t just art—it’s cultural archaeology,’ Du told reporters. The production arrives as global audiences crave authentic stories; its U.S. tour could make the Jino people’s vibrant heritage TikTok’s next obsession. 📱💫
