Young Chinese choreographers' new dances blend tradition with bold creativity

Source: Chinadaily.com.cn     2018-10-19

A stage photo of Yong 2. [Photo by Gao Shang/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Two young Chinese choreographers' new works Yong 2 and Collision have created a feast for ears and eyes in Beijing, fusing classical and contemporary dancing styles while injecting new vitality to traditional dances with multi-media technology.

The two programs, directed by Tian Tian and Chi Dongdong, formed a 70-minute show at the National Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, as part of the China Dancers Association's annual feast to spotlight creative ideas of young choreographers. 

The association's fifth edition of The Dancing Platform for Young Artists presents 10 dance performances from Oct 10 to 17, among which, seven are produced by rising choreographers in China's dancing scene.

The yearly event is supported by special fund for literature and arts development from China Literature and Art Foundation.

A stage photo of Yong 2. [Photo by Gao Shang/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Yong 2 - Dancing figurines come alive

The flow of light and shadow merged with the slow, graceful postures of a row of Chinese dancers dressed in traditional costumes, bringing alive dancing figurines unearthed from tombs of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) as well as the splendid dancing culture back then.

The ancient dancing figurines, known as yong in Chinese, are usually seen as displays in museums. The little statues have however become the inspiration of art creation for Tian Tian, a young Chinese dancer-choreographer based in Beijing. 

Saturday's performance of Yong 2 is a sequel of Tian's 2016 production. The 30-minute classical piece comprised a solo, a duo dance, a trio and a group dance. The dancers move in solos or in ensembles of different sizes, to the slow beat of drums and traditional Chinese music, reviving the beauty of the Han Dynasty dance.