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A poster for the musical "Steady Happiness." [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Renowned Chinese musician Xiao Ke presented his musical "Steady Happiness" at the 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival from July 30-31, marking the first time his musical works have been staged in Xinjiang.

Written and directed by Xiao Ke, "Steady Happiness" uses a reverse-chronological narrative to depict a couple's journey from youthful campus love in the early 1990s to their pursuit of dreams in middle age. Integrating Xiao's classic songs from the past 20 years, it is his debut musical and the first installment of his "Love Trilogy."

For this Xinjiang tour, the team behind the musical made some special changes to the plot. "The original story isn't set here, but we adjusted it to take place in Xinjiang. The actors have been rehearsing intensively these days," he explained.

Xiao noted that the musical tells a story of era-specific changes, spanning from the early 1990s to the '00s, with many nostalgic elements and plot points woven into the narrative. "On the surface, it's a love story, but it actually reflects China's development over these decades. Xinjiang has also undergone tremendous changes in recent years, and I believe audiences will see their past experiences in the show," he said.

With this year marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Xiao Ke added that the musical incorporates themes of ethnic unity and societal transformation, which align with Xinjiang's cultural context.

Xiao chose to present the first work of his "Love Trilogy" at the festival because it depicts the story of his generation's growth, starting from their college years in the early 1990s. "As part of the post-70s generation, I'm familiar with the era from the early reform and opening up in the 1980s to the rapid development of the '90s. The play includes both those who succeeded by following the trends and those who struggled amid the tides of the times," he stated.

He emphasized that as one of the few urban-themed works with a youth perspective in this year's festival lineup, the musical has unique appeal. Despite having just arrived in Xinjiang, Xiao mentioned he looked forward to interacting with international art troupes, and also expressed eagerness about collaborating with local art groups and intangible cultural heritage inheritors.

Having visited Xinjiang countless times, with his first trip back in the late 1990s, Xiao reflected on his current visit, saying, "Now the sky is clear and blue. Local friends tell me that even winters here are always sunny. The changes over these 20-odd years are truly remarkable."

As a native Beijinger, he also added that Xinjiang is a "magical and colorful place" for people from the capital. He has long dreamed of driving along the Duku Highway and is eager to explore villages in the deserts around Hotan.

Xiao also hopes to create music for Xinjiang in the future. "Wherever there's music and dance, there's joy — and Xinjiang is just such a place," he said.