He Limei's performance on the stage was so tearful that the audience held their breath in this pas de deux "Sacrifice for Love", which was hailed as the highlight of the large-scale dance "Lishui Sands". Then, waves of applause rushed to the stage and to the brilliant "Lishui Sands". He Limei said that her first reaction when hearing applause is usually: I really hope I can stand on the stage of "Lishui Sands" forever!
In the four years since its birth, "Lishui Sands" has become a banner for the cultural industry in Lijiang, Yunnan and even the country. More importantly, it shows the vigorous vitality of private performance groups.
Meet the challenge bravely
In September 2002, 18-year-old He Limei was admitted to the cast of "Lishui Sands" which had just started filming less than 4 months ago. At that time, no one said no. It is clear whether this large-scale dance, which combines elements of folk songs and dances with modern high-tech sound and light technology, can stand in Lijiang.
He Limei originally danced traditional Naxi dance on a small stage of less than 20 square meters in Yushui Village, Lijiang. "Lishui Sands" gave her a huge shock: the 400-square-meter stage of Lijiang International Cultural Exchange Center, a large team of more than 80 actors, 90 minutes of poetic dance in three chapters.
He Limei feels that her basic skills are very different from those of the actors in "Lishui Sands". "They are all great, some are from Lijiang National Song and Dance Troupe, some are from other cities and provinces," she said. Secretly determined to occupy a place in this first large-scale dance in Yunnan. After two months of hard work, she finally successfully joined the ranks of the group dancers performing the Miao "Torch Festival" in "Lishui Jinsha". "I have grown up!" she said happily.
"Lishui Jinsha" is also growing. Zhou Zhiqiang, general manager of Lishui Sands Performing Arts Co., Ltd., still has lingering fears about the situation when he started his business: At the end of 2001, he had never been involved in the performing arts industry and came to Lijiang. It only took three months to establish the project and create it, and it was officially performed on May 1, 2002. . "There was almost no audience at the beginning. On June 1, there was only one person in the audience. I remember it so deeply! After the performance, this foreign tourist said: The show is very good, but there is not enough publicity." The tourist's words gave Zhou Zhiqiang Confidence in the program itself and positioning of "Lishui Sands". He immediately adjusted his publicity strategy and asked the local government to organize a special promotion meeting for "Lishui Sands". Through a series of measures such as organizing tour guide classes, attracting tourist groups to watch the show, and using the media to publicize and build momentum, he gradually won the audience's reputation. Finally, in November 2002, "Lishui Sands" began to come out of its trough. At this time, He Limei just got her first role in "Lishui Sands" through her unremitting efforts.
Coincidentally, after taking the first step towards success, Zhou Zhiqiang and He Limei also decided on their next goals: to position Yunnan national culture as the soul and modern technology as the means. The tourist dance boutique party "Lishui Sands" challenges the market; with her own efforts, she challenges the heroine of "Lishui Sands".
In the end, both men succeeded in 2004.
This year, He Limei became the "pillar" in the group. "Lishui Sands" and the company are regarded as one of the most pioneering private commercial performances in the industry, and were awarded the title of "Cultural Industry Demonstration Base" by the Ministry of Culture; they were named "Top Ten Growth Enterprises in China's Cultural Industry in 2004"; It was named one of the "Top 100 Outstanding Literary Groups in the Country" at the 7th China Art Festival; in 2005, it won the gold medal for performance and the bronze medal for works at the 5th China Dance Lotus Awards; in the same year, it was named a famous trademark of Yunnan Province.
Brilliance created by a sense of crisis
He Limei on the stage is very beautiful: her dance is soft and light, her performance is accurate and immersive, and she perfectly grasps the shyness, anger, despair and happiness of the Naxi girl. Just right. When the audience's applause lasted for a long time, and when all the actors of "Lishui Sands" stood collectively under the spotlight that suddenly turned on, she was tightly wrapped in a vast warmth. She was sincerely proud that she was an important part of "Lishui Sands" We are proud of our team members and even more proud of the dedicated dedication of this team.
To run a good program, accurate market positioning is far from enough.
Zhou Zhiqiang said that the sharp innovation of mechanisms and systems in "Lishui Sands" can make it possible for unknown little characters like He Limei to transform into "main pillars". Moreover, it is precisely the competitive mechanism of private performance groups that makes it impossible for He Limei to sit back and relax when she becomes the "main performer": she must get used to accepting challenges.
This is how He Limei got the leading role: According to the regulations, she applied for the leading role to the dance team leader, and had an all-round competition with the leading actress at that time, and then all the actors voted Vote on who is qualified to be the heroine. He Limei won with difficulty. But in the past two years, she had to accept challenges from other actors again and again, and she tried her best and used her special skills to hold her "position."
"The system ensures the fairness of actor selection while also motivating actors to keep moving forward." He Limei introduced that competition for jobs and distribution according to work are the biggest secrets to the success of "Lishui Sands", regardless of Both actors and stage staff regard their skills as a prerequisite for hiring and taking on important roles. An actor's main income is determined by: performance skills, role responsibilities, frequency of appearances, dedication and discipline. "For example, if I perform a pas de deux, I can get 20 points for the protagonist, and 6 or 7 points for the minor roles. The actors have roles A and B. If role A fails, role B will immediately take over. The more you dance, the more points you will get, and your income will naturally increase. High.”
The sense of crisis is everywhere. He Limei believes that with her level in 2002, she would definitely not be able to squeeze into "Lishui Sands" now. Tired? Tired, there are 4 shows a day in the peak season and at least one show a day in the off-season. Sometimes I enter the venue at 2pm and can’t leave until 12pm late at night. "But willingly! This is also the reason why "Lishui Sands" can maintain its passion: the actors want to dance more and better," she said.
The vitality of the "private" mechanism. The success of "Lishui Sands" has pushed actors forward and attracted more actors to run towards it. Zhou Zhiqiang introduced that among the more than 80 actors in the troupe, 31 are from the former Lijiang City Song and Dance Troupe. Most of the rest are recruited locally, and a small number of actors come from all over Yunnan and even outside the province.
Many actors have personal experience of "state-owned" and "private-owned". 31 former Lijiang Song and Dance Ensemble actors became shareholders after restructuring, and jointly established a national performing arts company with Lishui Sands Performing Arts Company to provide actor guarantees for "Lishui Sands", open up a broader industrial space, and carefully train young actors. They are deeply touched by the change in their identity: "Before the transformation, there was no passion. Now, you can prove your worth and awaken your love for dance, your professional dignity, your deep pride and pride in our national culture. Acknowledge. ”
Keeping market awareness, being close to the audience, reasonable institutional arrangements, and scientific operating mechanisms... Looking back on the four-year struggle and success of "Lishui Sands", Zhou Zhiqiang is full of emotions: 2004 In 2006, "Lishui Sands" performed 786 times; in 2005, it performed 846 times; in 2006, it was approaching the 1,000-performance mark; and there were more than 60 charity performances. Some experts say that "Lishui Sands" has become a wonder in the domestic ethnic performance industry. Zhou Zhiqiang believes that this is an opportunity brought to enterprises by the country's policy of promoting cultural system reform and developing cultural industries. "Lishui Sands" has seized this opportunity with the full support of all parties, and the innate market awareness of private enterprises has been greatly improved in "Lishui Sands". Played a key role in the success of "Lishui Sands": works of art are also products, they must start from the market and accept the test of the market. This is the only way for enterprise development.
Facing the success of "Lishui Sands" with more than 3,000 performances in four years, Zhou Zhiqiang looked around calmly: "In the past four years, Yunnan alone has produced "Yunnan Image" and "Mengbala Naxi". ""Butterfly Dream" and a large number of tourist song and dance masterpieces, we are thinking about which parts are outdated and which parts need to be explored in depth. "Lishui Sands" must be prepared for danger in times of peace." 22-year-old He Limei. Still the dazzling heroine, she confidently told reporters: "Of course I hope to always be the protagonist, but I am not afraid to meet challenges! I also believe that "Lishui Sands", which is full of competition and vitality, will create more and better dancers. ”