This image was taken at the Tang Dynasty Show, in Xian, China. The performance is a music and dance show, highlighting the Tang Dynasty’s cultural art forms from 618 to 907 AD. The art form has its roots in folk fetes, when dances were first performed by people as part of rituals of prayer for a good harvest and a better life.

When we were watching the show my students and I were taking photos during the entire presentation. Thankfully the music was loud enough, most of the time, to mask the sounds of the shutters constantly firing. We only stopped shooting when we had a break in the show, and devoured the many styles of excellent dumplings they served. I could have sat through this show twice just to eat more dumplings.