Pop star returns to her ethnic Miao roots

A Duo reinvents herself as a promoter of traditional culture in a new stage production a decade in the making, Chen Nan reports.

Stardom often leads artists to chase the next big trend, but one female pop singer has embarked on a remarkable journey of reinvention.

Known for her catchy hits and glamorous performances, A Duo has made a deep, unexpected shift from the glitzy world of pop music to becoming a popularizer of Miao ethnic culture, with a new stage production that bridges the ancient and the modern.

Titled Reborn Beats, the production premiered on Dec 31 in the seaside community of Aranya in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, and is about to kick off a national tour on Friday to cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

The 45-year-old singer, who is also the scriptwriter and director, has seamlessly blended her pop background with ancient Miao traditions in a dazzling performance that is both a tribute to her heritage, and a platform for bringing her culture to a contemporary audience — many of whom may have never encountered it before.