Young Chinese choreographers' new dances blend tradition with bold creativity

Yong 2 - Dancing figurines come alive

The flow of light and shadow merged with the slow, graceful postures of a row of Chinese dancers dressed in traditional costumes, bringing alive dancing figurines unearthed from tombs of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) as well as the splendid dancing culture back then.

The ancient dancing figurines, known as yong in Chinese, are usually seen as displays in museums. The little statues have however become the inspiration of art creation for Tian Tian, a young Chinese dancer-choreographer based in Beijing.

Saturday's performance of Yong 2 is a sequel of Tian's 2016 production. The 30-minute classical piece comprised a solo, a duo dance, a trio and a group dance. The dancers move in solos or in ensembles of different sizes, to the slow beat of drums and traditional Chinese music, reviving the beauty of the Han Dynasty dance.