(Beijing weekend)
Updated: 2007-05-08 11:29

Yu Chenxi was just 12 years old when he bade farewell to the remote village of his childhood to pursue his dream in dance.

As part of the Miao ethnic group, Yu (pictured) has carried his minority's historical love of song and dance - but with an edge.

Beijing's newly opened YSO Dance Studio has become the launch pad for Yu's unique blend of East-meets-West movement.

The 24-year-old has introduced classes fusing Western contemporary and modern dance with traditional Chinese folk dance, and elements of Taiji and martial arts.

Already, YSO's classes have found fans among the expat community, as well as local dance enthusiasts.

Renovations of the city studio were completed just months ago. Beyond the door of a converted apartment lies a modern, mirrored dance space with professional flooring. The studio is filled with natural light and makes good use of bright colors.

YSO's owner, Polly Wu, lived and trained in Australia and also teaches students at the school, which hosts regular international guest instructors.

Yu's style of Chinese contemporary dance is a graceful mix of ancient symbols with new appeal to an international market.

"I use the Chinese way to express the spirit, feeling, breath, rhyme into choreography, so that you might find the western 'contraction - release' technique and also the Chinese classical dance flavor," Yu said.

"I feel that the international students may have more interest than the Chinese students in this form of art, because I believe that lots of students like Taiji and Chinese martial arts, and if we can provide this new form of art it will appeal."

Yu's latest piece, The Red Fan, reflects the soft, yet persistent and firm character of the Oriental people. He moves fluidly in performance, his focus intent as the signature red fan slices the air.

The varied routines are set to a mix of the ancient instrument, the pipa, and popular sounds of jazz, hip-hop and electronic music.

Yu comes to YSO with rich choreography experience, including for last year's Miss Universe final in Harbin, and several other modeling competitions and television events.

Intent on a creative path, Yu left his home in Hunan Province before his teens and enrolled in the Central University for Nationalities dance school. He studied Chinese folk dance, and was later admitted to Beijing Dance Academy, where he majored in contemporary choreography, contemporary dance, ballet and Chinese dance.

YSO's classes are held daily, and the school has also launched a corporate performance program, providing dancers for product launches and other events.

The studio is located at Suite 15B1, 6 Nanxinyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District, behind Capital Library and next to Long Tou apartment building.
Tel: 010-8732-5133, 130-5130-7528.