A scene from Great Port in the East. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Ningbo Performance & Arts Group is going to premiere its latest dance drama, Great Port in the East, on May 15 and 16.

Set against the backdrop of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in East China's Zhejiang province, which is one of the world's largest ports by cargo tonnage, the dance drama depicts the local people of different generations who have been involved in the construction of the grand harbor since the beginning of the reform and opening-up.

According to director Qian Xin, the creative team started to prepare for the dance drama last June. When they visited the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, they were overwhelmed by the scenes of container ships and containers, which later became major elements in the dance drama.

"We talked to the workers at the port, who told us many touching stories, especially ones about their families working on the port for generations. They worked very hard for the harbor construction, so we wanted to tell their stories through the dance drama," says Qian.

Young Chinese dancers Xia Tian, Wang Yihan, Wang Zheng and Wang Mengmeng play four major roles in the dance drama.