Shen Yun Performing Arts - Classical Chinese Dance

Classical Chinese Dance

Chinese dance has two main categories: ethnic and folk dance is one, classical dance is the other. Ethnic and folk refer to the different regional and ethnic dance styles that have been passed down through centuries, carrying the unique characteristics of each tradition. But the dance style you will see most at a Shen Yun performance is classical Chinese dance.

Classical Chinese dance has a vast training system, and is a dance form still mostly new to the West. You could say it carries the essence of Chinese cultural expression in its movements, postures, and aesthetics. In its early years, it was passed down primarily in the imperial court and as part of ancient theater.

In modern times, its training was systematized to include elements like barre and center work. The unique art form of classical Chinese dance that we know today, with its impressive scale and systematic training, is the product of generations of artistic experience and continual refining.

Classical Chinese dance has three main components: form, bearing, and techniques.

Form refers to the hundreds of extremely intricate poses and movements that make up the vocabulary of the art form. Even though some poses look simple, they require full-body integration—the way the torso bends and rotates, the direction of the eyes, and the position of the fingers need to be coordinated in a precise way.

Bearing is the emphasis on the dancer’s inner expression and its connection with the movements he or she performs. It is this feeling—integrated into the movements—that brings something magical to the art.

Techniques include a series of very difficult moves—jumps, flips, twists, and spins that have been a part of classical Chinese dance for thousands of years. With these skills and the refined and equally difficult training of bearing and form, it is not difficult to see why classical Chinese dance stands out as one of the world's most comprehensive dance forms.

Tickets

Select a performance in...