Dancing in the streets

According to an annual report released by the China Association of Performing Arts, box-office revenue from dance performances amounted to 531 million yuan ($73.3 million) in 2022. Dance dramas took up 56 percent of total income, making them the most popular performance art forms in the market.

Wing Chun is a dance drama about Hong Kong martial arts master Yip Man, also known as Ip Man, who was born in Foshan, Guangdong province. It enjoyed great success touring the world, with 12 performances in London in September and another four in Paris in October. Making its domestic debut in December 2022, the drama has presented over 200 shows worldwide.

Another dance drama hit, Only Blue and Green, was inspired by the well-known ancient Chinese scroll painting Qianli Jiangshan Tu (A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains) by Wang Ximeng of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Integrating diverse elements of dance, music and literature, it presents a profound story and a vivid painting with captivating Chinese aesthetics onstage. Premiering in 2021, it has staged over 500 shows in over 60 cities in China and abroad in countries such as Turkiye, Singapore and Russia.

The dance drama boom is a result of the artists' joint generational efforts and the industry's continuous development for the past 70 years, according to Feng. "There are outstanding dancers who are good at expressing emotions with body control and comprehensive physical skills. Moreover, the new-generation choreographers are well-educated, equipped with the internet for abundant information, and some are good at telling Chinese stories," Feng says. "They are working at the best time, which is making huge progress, that is reflected in the dance dramas."

Choreographer Huang Doudou says that many stories based on traditional Chinese culture are becoming more popular and the public's awareness and aesthetics of the art are rising. People, especially children, have easier access to dance education. Moreover, many popular TV dance shows have also helped the public to appreciate the charm of the art and draw them into theaters, Huang says.

Feng adds that Chinese dance dramas explore their own paths to make such stories popular regardless of boundaries. "Audiences from across the globe love stories and Chinese dance dramas tell good ones," he says. "I see the performances absorbing the features of global counterparts, while trying to build a creative and expressive system of our own."

Contact the writer at wangxin2@chinadaily.com.cn