The Heritage of Chinese Culture and Dance is a story in motion

Contemporary artists breathe new life into tradition to preserve an age-old heritage by celebrating ancient movements. In this seven-episode series, each evocative episode paints a distinct portrait of Chinese dance, exploring a different traditional Chinese dance form and tracing its historical and geographical roots. 

At the heart of the series are two internationally acclaimed figures: Yang Liping, the legendary choreographer also known as the “Peacock Princess,” and Zheng Jigang, a visionary dance director. Together, they present a compelling dialogue between East and West, merging centuries-old traditions with modern expression.

One highlight is Yang Liping’s groundbreaking reinterpretation of Stravinsky’s 1913 ballet The Rite of Spring. A fusion of Chinese philosophy, Tibetan Buddhist elements, and original music by He Xuntian, Yang's version of the ballet is boldly innovative. “What I aim to achieve is to bridge the East and West distinctively,” she says. “Just very Chinese style.”

Born in Dali, Yunnan Province, Yang has spent nearly five decades collecting, preserving, and transforming the dances of China’s ethnic minority groups. From her iconic Dynamic Yunnan to her mentorship of emerging artists, she sees herself as a guardian of cultural memory. “Many things are non-renewable,” she notes. “We can't get them back once we lose them.”