Beijing Modern Dance Festival

Modern dance's freedom of movement and often abstract themes set it apart from other dance genres. These characteristics are what Willy Tsao had in mind when he chose the performances for this year's Beijing Modern Dance Festival. Rather than only selecting top dancers, he chose performers who express themselves passionately.

Modern dance's freedom of movement and often abstract themes
set it apart from other dance genres.

Modern dance is sometimes seen as appealing only to a young, unconventional audience. But sell-out shows at the Oriental Pioneer Theater are proving the genre has wider appeal.

The second Beijing Modern Dance Festival is attracting both professional dancers and dance lovers of all ages. The five day event features fifty programs, ten for each day, performed by dance ensembles, dance studios and amateur dance enthusiasts.

Willy Tsao and his Lei Dong Tian Xia dance company are the organizers. Tsao says although the dancers have different skill levels, they all express themselves sincerely and their individuality makes for a diverse festival.

Willy Tsao, organizer of Beijing Modern Dance Festival, says, "these dancers are all trying to say something with their bodies. They are not following one format, they are trying to find a distinctive way to express themselves. That is what we're glad to see."

Friday night's performances showcased this diversity.

The Guwu Theater from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region presented a piece called "Three Turns in Dreams." By portraying a dreamland, the work expresses the creator's ideas on human relations and his hometown.

Huang Lei, dancer of Guwu theater, says, "I created this piece after I graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy and returned to my hometown in Guangxi. I put some new thoughts about my hometown after several years away into the piece."

"Persistent Pessimism and Desperation" tells of a young girl's hard inner journey as she grows up. Without knowing what her future will hold, she thinks about her existence and the road she is trekking along. The dancer is a college student from Jilin province.

The next piece "Trailing the Sun" tells of the peaceful and clear mind of the choreographer after he emerged from the chaos of his inner world. The piece is choreographed by Xu Yiming, a member of the Lei Dong Tian Xia Dance company, and is performed by Xu and his colleague Zuo Yan.

Xu Yiming, dancer, LDTX Dance Company, says, "This is an excerpt from my dance "Trailing the Sun". It's the final part, about my peaceful and sunny state of mind after I walked out of a period of confusion and chaos. I hope the audience will feel calm and experience the peace and sweetness of my mood."