Dance school waltzes into platinum year

The Beijing Dance Academy is known as the revered cradle for dancers in China. This year, marking the top Chinese dance school's 70th birthday, three galas are being held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Saturday and Sunday, which celebrate the academy's rich history and are an artistic gift to the future of dance.

The scale of these performances is nothing short of grand, with a total of 1,168 performers and crew involved, according to the gala's lead director Chen Weiya. Among them, 625 students from the affiliated middle school of the academy will take part, along with a group of rising young dance artists from the academy.

"We started to prepare the gala over a year ago. It promises to be a breathtaking evening, bringing together a dazzling array of talent from both alumni and current students. With performances that span multiple generations, the event will showcase the evolution of different dance forms — from classical Chinese dance, Chinese folk dance and ballet to cutting-edge contemporary pieces," says Chen.

The veteran director and choreographer is widely recognized as a leading figure in stage direction and a world-renowned representative of the craft. His remarkable career includes directing some of the most significant national performances, such as acting as the deputy director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, the chief director of the gala The Great Journey commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China in 2021 and the chief director of the opening ceremony of the 31st FISU World University Games held in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in 2023.

Chen has been appointed the honorary president of the Beijing Dance Academy's School of Creative Studies in 2023 and, as he says, "it's coming full circle".

"I was trained by the Beijing Dance Academy and I always feel grateful to my teachers here, who not only taught me dance and choreography, but also to be passionate and creative," says Chen. "During the past year, I worked with my team on this gala. We have a deep love for the academy and share a commitment to the art of dance. This dedication, combined with the creative energy of the entire team, brought me back to my years studying at the academy."

The Beijing Dance School was the predecessor of the Beijing Dance Academy, which first opened on Sept 6, 1954. It was the country's first institute of dance. Dai Ailian (1916-2006), also known as Ailien Tai, then 38, an overseas Chinese ballerina, was appointed the first president of the institute. In the past 70 years, the Beijing Dance Academy has trained an astonishing array of accomplished dancers, choreographers and educators.

According to Xu Rui, president of the Beijing Dance Academy, the 70th anniversary gala is more than just a celebration of the academy's past; it is a showcase of its enduring legacy and bright future. The performance will unite generations of the academy's alumni and current students, demonstrating the profound impact the academy has had on the dance world. Star dancers will perform in the gala, including Huang Doudou, Meng Qingyang, Hua Xiaoyi and Yin Shuo.

In the ballet session, excerpts from classic pieces, including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Don Quixote, will be performed. Classical Chinese dance inspired by movements of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) and Tang Dynasty (618-907) will also be featured in the gala. One of the highlights will see students of the musical department of the academy performing the song Mother, led by Ayanga, a popular musical actor in China.

"When I think back on the most important moments in my life, one that stands out is performing at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I was dressed in the attire of the Dunhuang Flying Apsaras from Chinese classical dance, performing in the vast space of the Bird's Nest," says dancer Yin Shuo, who graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy in 2008 and joined the China Oriental Performing Arts Group.

"I was born into a family of dancers — both my parents dedicated their lives to China's arts and culture. Growing up surrounded by dance has always been a source of pride for me. The academy gave me the opportunity to learn solid techniques, as well as to perform on different stages," she says.

"I have been with the academy for over 20 years, though I am only 33 years old," says dancer Hu Yang, who graduated from the middle school affiliated to the Beijing Dance Academy and later graduated from the academy. Now, he is the principal dancer of the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater. "I grew up here and the academy witnessed my artistic growth. It's like my family.

"I have danced at the academy's 50th birthday gala, 60th birthday gala and now at its 70th birthday gala, which is a great honor," he adds. "We owe our success to the academy that has supported us for so many years. This gala is our way of giving back and expressing our gratitude."