Renowned dance artist brings classic drama to Taiyuan

Famous dance artist Yang Liping arrived at Shanxi Grand Theatre on Monday with the 2026 version of the dance drama Ambush from All Sides. This stage masterpiece, which has been polished for 11 years, presents a stunning artistic feast to audiences in Taiyuan with a brand-new lineup.

The Ambush from All Sides takes the struggle between Chu and Han as the story's base, skillfully integrates modern dance, Peking Opera, paper cuttings, installation art, and other diversified art forms, breaks the traditional historical narrative framework, and deeply analyzes human nature and modern people facing external disputes and internal struggles. Since its debut, the play has traveled to stages both domestic and international, with over a hundred global tours.

Speaking of her trip to Taiyuan, Yang Liping frankly stated that Taiyuan has a profound cultural heritage and that she is delighted to perform there. A work can only become more exquisite after being polished over time, just like fine wine, which becomes fragrant over time, she said.

Yang said dance is a dialogue between the body and the audience. Regardless of the type of art, only by pouring sincere emotions, adhering to quality, and aesthetics, can works be passed down for a long time, while appealing to both highbrow and popular taste is the highest-level pursuit of art.

The biggest highlight of this performance is the brand-new cast, with most of the participating dancers being energetic young actors born in the 2000s. Yang introduced that the original dancers are now deeply rooted in the field of dance, and many have grown into excellent directors and industry backbones. The new generation of dancers are full of enthusiasm and diligence, and are dedicated to improvement, accepting tests from audiences and honing their skills through repeated stage practices.

The stage is fertile ground for the growth of dancers and younger generations should always have a sense of awe, respect the stage, interpret roles with heart, and pass on the spirit of national dance from generation to generation, she said.

Faced with the rapidly developing industry environment of technology, Yang also shared her artistic philosophy. She said she does not reject cutting-edge technology, but always believes that the soul of dance lies in physical expression and that the movements of dancers carry unique cultural heritage and emotional power.

No matter how the technology iterates, the ultimate competition of works lies on quality and aesthetics. Without an aesthetic core, works will become impetuous, she added.

There were also three Shanxi dancers participating in the performance, including Taiyuan actor Du Bin who played Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty (206 BC to AD 220).

"Liu Bang has a complex personality, and when I perform, I need to use props, expressions, and body movements to interpret the multifaceted traits of the characters," Du said.