Shen Danxi talks about the lines with the children during the audition in the community center of Lengquan village on July 20, 2012. [Photo by Fan Zhen/chinadaily.com.cn]

The downpour hit the village on the second day of their rehearsal. The tree in the backyard fell on the roof which had been leaking since the rain began, and Shen had to call off the rehearsal and send the children home as quickly as possible.

When they sent back the last kid, the water in the village had already risen to their thighs. The minivan that was supposed to pick them out broke down on the way to them.

They had to wade through thigh-deep muddy water to get to the bus station that lay outside of the village.

"It did occur to me that the premiere may not succeed because the bad weather had shrunk our rehearsal time," Shen said. "But they made it."

All the effort of the volunteers paid off on performance night when the children's performance won the audience's uncritical approval.

Shen will study International Education Policies in Harvard next year. She knows that though the outcome of this first solo project was positive, there is always more to learn.

"To bring up a dream, one needs not only passion but also knowledge," Shen said.

"Dean D'Art is my budding dream and I will make it thrive."

Shen Danxi took a break after a performance class in the community center in Lengquan village on July 14, 2012. [Photo by Fan Zhen/chinadaily.com.cn]

Contact the writer at fanzhen@chinadaily.com.cn