Chinese Dance | Chinese New Year Splendor | Chinese Holiday Show in New York

Sometimes words are simply not enough. Ancient Chinese people chose dance as the art form to pay respect to heaven and the divine, appreciate life and the universe, and praise kindness and virtue.

Introduction to Chinese Classical Dance

Chinese dance can be divided into two general categories: classical dance and folk dance. Chinese classical dance is particularly comprehensive and abundant in its vocabulary. Taking different forms in each historical dynasty, Chinese classical dance has absorbed elements from all areas of Chinese culture, including Chinese opera, martial arts and spirituality.

History of Chinese Classical Dance

Chinese dance dates back over 5,000 years to the Royal Court dances of the semi-divine cultures of the Zhou, Tang and Song Dynasties. In each time period, the national character was expressed through dance, incorporating movements influenced by folk stories, historic figures and classic myths and legends, and expressing society’s respect for morality, compassion, loyalty, wisdom, and trustworthiness.

For centuries, classical Chinese dance was passed down mostly among the common people. After 1919, however, dedicated artists believed that they had a responsibility to systematically document Chinese dance, and so began the formal teaching of classical Chinese dance.

Characteristics of Chinese Classical Dance

Emphasis on Spirit: Why is Chinese culture in general considered to be “semi-divine”? And how is Chinese classical dance in particular different from western ballet? What differentiates Chinese classical dance is that, rather than focusing on the beauty of the human surface, it emphasizes the spirit of the subject, its allure, and the inner meanings. As a result, every dance and every dancer has a different allure. Two dancers performing the same movements will come across totally differently, because each movement reflects the dancer’s innate character .

Rich techniques: Having developed over thousands of years, Chinese classical dance has incorporated dance elements and techniques from ballet, Chinese operas, folk operas, and Chinese martial art forms. As a system, therefore, it is both diverse and highly rigorous.

Encompassing: A Chinese classical dancer who has mastered the basic forms and techniques will be able to portray any character, with a wide range of emotions, personalities, and actions. Chinese classical dance can thus awaken a great sense of creativity and meaning for dancers, choreographers, and onlookers alike.

Appreciating Chinese Classical Dance

Chinese dance requires the dancers to undergo strict physical training. Actions and movements called “body techniques” need to be accurate and precise, and every action, movement and look needs to follow the preset rules of Chinese dance. For example, a single dance movement from one part of the body should lead to the movement of the entire body, as all movements are interrelated. Likewise, any movement of hands, eyes, and feet must also follow the movement of the whole body. This takes extreme precision and control.

More importantly, a dancer's spiritual realm will be reflected in his or her performance so the dancer must have good mental cultivation to be able to "let the movements be led by the spirit.” Therefore, the performers not only need to solidly master the physical techniques of Chinese dance, but also perfect their moral character and willpower in order to portray the
fundamental inner meaning of a divinely imparted culture.