Chapter 726: Thousand-Hand Guanyin

Behind the scenes at the Spring Festival Gala, inside the lounge of the Disabled Persons Art Troupe.

They had all finished changing into their shimmering performance costumes, with only the props for their fingers left to be put on.

Once the next program ends, they will touch up their makeup and then put on the remaining performance props. After that, they can head to the stage entrance to wait.

At this very moment, Xu Cong received a reply on WeChat from Luo Mo and immediately called the deaf-mute girls over to look at it together.

As they looked at Luo Mo's response, smiles appeared on the faces of Chen Lili and the others.

They had always felt that Luo Mo was a person who was very Gentle toward vulnerable groups.

Right now, the deaf-mute girls were only thinking about performing well in a moment and Dancing this dance perfectly.

The previous god-tier program, the underwater dance "Prayer," could be said to have directly raised the prestige of this year's Spring Festival Gala dance programs by several levels.

"Thousand-Hand Guanyin" is scheduled for later, so it mustn't lower the prestige that has been raised.

For the Disabled Persons Art Troupe, this is also no small challenge.

Luo Mo's emphasis on "Thousand-Hand Guanyin" is plain for all to see.

During rehearsals, the place he visited the most was here at the Disabled Persons Art Troupe.

Many people at CCTV, as well as staff members, had not seen the complete stage because the confidentiality work was done so well.

These people were actually quite curious too.

"What kind of program could make the Chief Planner value it so much?"

"Is there really another dance program that could make Luo Mo value it so highly?"

"Dance programs have always been just supporting acts."

"Is it because the risk for disabled performers on stage is relatively high?"

There were all kinds of guesses, and it could be said that opinions were divided internally.

Moreover, news leaked out that during a high-level meeting, Ji Huawen asked Luo Mo and Ning Dan to introduce a few seed programs from each category this year.

Among the dance programs, Luo Mo ranked "Thousand-Hand Guanyin" first.

In fact, during the meeting, a CCTV executive even asked, "Since you value this program so much, why not make it a pre-recorded broadcast like 'Prayer'?"

Luo Mo replied, "'Prayer' was pre-recorded because, with human effort, it is impossible to complete a perfect two-minute stage; it had to be edited from dozens of hours of footage."

"In an underwater performance, even the arc and the degree of spread of a single ribbon cannot be controlled."

"Human effort has its limits, which is why we chose a pre-recorded broadcast to let everyone see the best side."

"But 'Thousand-Hand Guanyin' is different; I believe the Disabled Persons Art Troupe can deliver a perfect live presentation."

"I insist on a Live Broadcast," Luo Mo answered very firmly.

It is like a talented singer who has practiced a song to perfection, having poured countless efforts into it, and then you tell her to just lip-sync.

This would make much of her hard work go to waste, appearing completely unnecessary, and at the same time, it would fail to perfectly showcase her super-strong personal ability.

Besides that, the shock brought to the audience would also be diminished.

The final result was that Ji Huawen made the call to respect the decision made by Luo Mo and Ning Dan.

This actually made Ning Dan feel much more relaxed.

This was the most relaxed time she had had since collaborating with CCTV several times; she faced the fewest restrictions and was given the most authority.

If not for Ji Huawen backing them up, there would definitely be people coming to point fingers, resulting in the phenomenon of laymen directing experts.

Now, the Disabled Persons Art Troupe has already gone to make their final preparations.

On stage, the final wrap-up of the current stage segment is underway.

Some programs geared toward children are scheduled earlier.

The next program is one that is slightly geared toward children.

Because it also counts as a children's song.

However, there are actually many adults listening to this song; the adult audience is no smaller than the child audience.

As the camera cut to another stage, the first thing everyone saw was a black piano.

Quite a few people had sharp eyes and immediately left comments on the bullet screen.

"This is Yu's custom piano!"

"That's right, her name is even on it!"

"The Nation's Little Sister is here!"

"Haha, I knew Yu wouldn't be absent."

When the camera gave a close-up, everyone saw the fair and slender fingers on the keys.

When Ding Xiaoyu's fingers played the first note on the piano, the program title appeared before the audience.

— "Bug Flying".

"【Lyricist: Luo Mo.】"

"【Composer: Luo Mo.】"

"【Singing: Ding Xiaoyu.】"

This is a children's song that many people on Earth are familiar with, and quite a few people can sing along to a few lines.

At the same time, it is also an insert song for the movie "Wind and Cloud: Hegemon of the World".

Yeah, the version of the movie starring Ekin Cheng.

I have to say, in the Wind and Cloud series, it can be said that the Wind and Cloud are flowing, but the Hegemon is iron-clad.

In most versions, the Hegemon is played by the same person.

If you look closely, this song might not have been released with the intention of being a children's song at the beginning.

Because both the lyricist and the composer were top-tier industry professionals on Earth.

Perhaps it was because its melody is relatively melodious and its style is relatively unique that it slowly turned into a nursery rhyme.

The barrage of comments swept across the screen at this moment.

"Ah! Is Yu going to sing?"

"Looking forward to it, looking forward to it!"

"Yu sings very well!"

"The song title is actually quite interesting."

Once Ding Xiaoyu opened her mouth to sing, many viewers were immediately captivated.

"【The dark sky hangs low,"

"Bright stars follow along,"

"Bug Flying, Bug Flying,"

"Who are you missing?】"

The lyrics are very simple, yet they match the melody perfectly.

"This song is so beautiful!"

"It has such a great atmosphere!"

"It sounds like a nursery rhyme."

"It feels like returning to a summer night."

"It pulled me right back to the countryside."

In front of their television sets, many young viewers were watching the program very intently.

This song is completely different in the hearts of adults compared to the eyes of many children.

Adults feel it is more like a love song.

Yet, it happens to be very suitable for singing when coaxing children to sleep.

The points that children grasp are the dark night, the stars, the bugs, and the flowers.

The focus of adults perhaps lingers on longing and being in pairs.

The A-section of the song is sung solo by Ding Xiaoyu.

It was not until she sang the B-section that the camera pulled back to a wide shot.

So it turns out, on the other side of the stage, a group of children were standing there.

After they appeared, Ding Xiaoyu focused on the work of providing accompaniment.

The children's chorus added a touch of aesthetic beauty, as well as that sense of innocence and romance, to the entire song.

Quite a few children were completely mesmerized.

"【Bug Flying, flowers sleep,"

"A Pair is what makes it beautiful.】"

The singing spread across the stage, entered the ears, and reached deep into the heart.

Many people left messages in the barrage:

"The best nursery rhyme in recent years!"

"I don't even think of it as a nursery rhyme!"

"I suddenly miss my grandmother, how magical!"

"Me too! I miss my grandmother too!"

As the song ended, the "repeaters" in the barrage began to flood the screen with two words—"Sounds great!"

As expected of Luo Mo, he can even achieve this level with a nursery rhyme.

Ding Xiaoyu's vocal timbre is the very clean kind, which is very comfortable to listen to.

Starting with her and then ending with the children's chorus, there is no sense of disharmony at all.

Many kindergarten and elementary school teachers are planning to download this song.

When the class has a chorus in the future, they can totally sing this!

In fact, this song also has a Cantonese version.

The name of the Cantonese version is completely in the style of a love song, called "A Pair".

Once Ding Xiaoyu left the stage, the few programs in this segment came to an end.

The camera switched to the hosts, who handled the transition to the following program.

At the stage entrance, the Disabled Persons Art Troupe was already preparing, going on stage one by one, and then standing in their designated positions on the stage.

Four sign language teachers were also in position in four directions to coordinate the work.

The hosts began to introduce the Disabled Persons Art Troupe.

Upon learning that the next program was performed by 21 deaf-mute people, the barrage was filled with surprise.

"Deaf-mute dancing?"

"What type of dance is it?"

"It's choreographed by Luo Mo and Xu Cong!"

"I've already started looking forward to it!"

It is still considered prime time, so some "seed" programs are prioritized to be arranged in this time slot.

However, prime time is also nearing its end.

Some people in the know would instinctively think that the next two or three programs must also be the highlights of this year.

The dance by the Disabled Persons Art Troupe being arranged in this time slot definitely shows they are highly valued.

And there is one thing you must understand—"Prayer" set the bar too high.

With that masterpiece preceding it, the subsequent dance programs are not easy to handle.

If one did not have enough confidence in this program, then one should have swapped its position with "Prayer".

Put the better programs a bit later.

After all, if you play your trump card right at the start and everyone feels their inner soul has been fiercely shaken, then if the follow-up is weak, there will be a hollow feeling and a strong sense of disparity.

This is a very basic mode of troop deployment; if Luo Mo couldn't even think of this, he wouldn't be a competent Chief Planner.

At this very moment, people in the dance world had their expectations raised in an instant.

As mentioned before, Xu Cong is an excellent dance choreographer in the country.

In the industry, he was already illustrious.

His name is like thunder to the ears for many who study dance.

As for how strong Luo Mo is, "Tang Palace Night Banquet" and "Prayer" are right there.

"The collaboration between the two of them must be really Ox, right?" many people thought to themselves.

Backstage at the Spring Festival Gala, Luo Mo also felt a little excitement.

"It's finally time for 'Thousand-Hand Guanyin'," he said in his heart.

You must know, this program on Earth is 【World-Class】!

What it shocked was not just the people of the country, but the whole world!

For Luo Mo, whether it was "Tang Palace Night Banquet" or "Prayer", both involved dancers merging with special effects, scenes, and the like to produce magnificent visual effects.

Relatively speaking, "Thousand-Hand Guanyin" is a greater return to the dance itself.

The shock it brings to people comes purely from the dancers themselves!

"Get ready, what follows is high-energy throughout!" Luo Mo said in his heart.

………

………

The host team of CCTV had already given a brief introduction to the next program.

When the screen switched over, the members of the Disabled Persons Art Troupe were already all standing in a line.

Lead dancer Chen Lili stood at the very front.

Looking from this frame, you could barely see the people behind her.

Her expression was inclined toward calmness, with a faint smile on her face, giving one a sense of solemnity.

The program title appeared.

——"Thousand-Hand Guanyin".

"Dong——!" It was as if a bell in a temple had been struck.

The music began to play right then.

The music for the entire performance was actually a huge plus.

It gives people a feeling of being bathed in Buddha's light.

When Xu Cong heard the soundtrack sent by Luo Mo, he was thoroughly convinced by him.

This young man's talent in music seemed to be endless.

Not only were the songs written well, but even the soundtrack for this kind of dance was done to the extreme!

Chen Lili stood at the very front, motionless.

When the mudras in her hands began to change, countless viewers couldn't help but widen their eyes.

Amidst the music, two arms appeared at the bottom.

Following that, there were four arms, six arms, eight arms……..

Chen Lili's expression didn't have much change.

When these arms gathered together and were about to reach a semi-circle, after they twisted a bit, they all retracted.

By the time these arms appeared outward again, they were in a fully spread state.

Behind the lead dancer Chen Lili were a full 40 arms!

The shock of this moment was hard to describe.

If one really had to describe it, one could only use—those two words!

In the bullet comments, from the moment the first pair of arms appeared, the two words "Holy shit" never stopped.

Sorry, we also know today is New Year's Eve.

Sorry, we also know this program is performing Guanyin.

But, we can't help it!

Forgive me Bodhisattva, I really can't help but say holy shit!

There really is no other vocabulary that can accurately express the intense shock in the viewers' hearts that cannot be specifically described.

Many people couldn't even tell how many people were standing behind at once.

Many people standing in a row and then dancing in unison is actually nothing rare.

However, if you add the theme of 【Thousand-Hand Guanyin】, plus the Props on their fingers, plus this music, and their precise dance moves…….. every detail was done to the extreme, done to perfection!

If normal dancers brought such a performance, everyone would also feel goosebumps.

But once you think about how they are all deaf-mutes, that feeling is even harder to describe.

You simply cannot imagine how they managed to do it.

Did you think this year's Spring Festival Gala would be like previous years, relying on some special individuals to stir up emotions, to engage in humanitarian care, to rely on vulnerable groups to cheat tears and capture everyone's sympathy?

They did not show their vulnerable side on stage.

They were using actual actions to tell everyone—I am a top-tier dancer!

Even if I cannot hear, even if I cannot communicate with people normally, my strength is top-tier!

"How is this timing so precise?"

"How on earth do they practice this in their daily lives!"

"The choreography is so innovative!"

Many people looked at Chen Lili and were actually able to sense a touch of compassion from her facial expressions!

The moment all the arms retracted and then spread out again, incredibly enthusiastic applause erupted at the Spring Festival Gala venue.

Uncontrollable! The applause was completely uncontrollable!

It truly felt dazzling, and the visual impact truly reached a top-tier level!

At this very moment, there were hardly any stage special effects appearing.

Yet the feeling it gave people was just like watching special effects.

The hands of the audience at the venue simply wouldn't listen to reason, clapping desperately as if they wanted to clap their palms to pieces.

——They cannot hear such enthusiastic applause.

Amidst the special musical accompaniment, many people had different feelings.

Some people felt like crying a little.

Some people felt their souls had been purified.

Thousand-Hand Guanyin, the full name of which is Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye Guanyin, is one of the Six Guanyins in Buddhism.

On every single hand, there is an eye.

The thousand hands represent the protection of all living beings everywhere.

The thousand eyes represent the observation of the world everywhere.

The mainstream image of the Thousand-Hand Guanyin often uses 42 arms to symbolize the thousand hands, and the stage performance is exactly the same.

If one were to say that "Prayer" was a divine maiden Flying Apsaras, then "Thousand-Hand Guanyin" is a Bodhisattva manifesting in the world.

In the barrage comments, many silly netizens were incredibly excited.

"I'm kneeling! I'm truly kneeling!"

"A Bodhisattva has manifested; shouldn't this dance be watched while kneeling?"

"I have seen a living Bodhisattva!"

(PS: Tomorrow I am going to Hangzhou with my wife to try on wedding dresses and purchase some wedding items. We are taking wedding photos in Hangzhou on the 26th, and holding the wedding banquet on the 29th of next month. Although our son has already been born, none of the necessary rituals can be skipped, so there might not be an update tomorrow. If I get back to the hotel early, there might be one; just giving a heads-up.)

(End of this chapter)