Tong Liya makes stage return as she embarks on national tour

At 12, Tong studied at Xinjiang Arts University's dance school.

By 19, she had become a professional dancer with the Xinjiang Song and Dance Troupe. Later, she continued studies at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing.

Here, and Beyond had its premiere in 2019 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

Since its reimagined version debuted at the 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival in July, it has now embarked on a nationwide tour, set to cover 17 cities and 50 performances by April 2026.

The dance drama, featuring more than 50 dancers from Xinjiang, is structured into six chapters: Encounter, To Father, To Mother, To Love, To the Distance and To Here. Each chapter weaves together the stories of various ethnic groups, blending folk dance forms with international dance vocabulary.

The work explores themes of love, identity and personal growth, while drawing on the cultural traditions of various ethnic groups, including Kazak, Uygur, Xibe and Tajik.