Watch Dunhuang: Dance of the Thousand Hands for free

Dunhuang Dance is a form of Chinese dance that draws sources from body movements depicted in artifacts found in Dunhuang Mogao Caves. Located in Gansu Province of China, along the Silk Route, at the crossroads of trade as well as religious, cultural and intellectual influences, the seven hundred and thirty-five caves are famous for their statues and fresco paintings, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. This documentary offers a rare glimpse into the living tradition of Dunhuang dance, where ancient Buddhist iconography is translated into contemporary movement. Thousand Hand Guan Yin, a representative work featured in this program, is a contemporary creation conceived by the renowned Chinese choreographer ZHANG Jigang and produced by the China Disabled Performing Art Troupe. In this dance, a group of hearing-impaired dancers effectively utilize their body language to communicate the magic of "thousand hands" and hints at the deep meaning of Buddhism, its luminescence and boundless love.