dance1ic | 1-29 | Search Results | Pioneers of Chinese Dance | University of Michigan Library Digital Collections

Balinese dance

Title (English): Balinese dance
Title (Chinese): 巴厘舞
Title (Romanization): Bali wu
Description: Zhang Jun (张均 1935-2012) was a pioneer of the genre known as "Oriental Dance" (东方舞), in particular the dances of South and Southeast Asia. Born in Hubei, Zhang joined the "New Peace" (新安) performance ensemble (later the Shanghai Experimental Opera Theater) in Shanghai in 1950. From late 1954 to mid-1955, Zhang travelled to India, Burma, and Indonesia on a Chinese Cultural Delegation led by Dai Ailian. In 1956, Zhang entered the Beijing Dance School, where she became a founding member of the Oriental Music and Dance Course, and in 1962, she was a founding member of the Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble (东方歌舞团, est. 1962), a national-level ensemble based in Beijing that specialized in the dances of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Between 1980-1981, Zhang received intensive training in multiple styles of Indian classical dance at the Darpana Academy in India. In China, she pursued advanced study in Indian religious history at Peking University and published one of the first Chinese-language books on bharata natyam.

"Dance with Ball"

Title (English): "Dance with Ball"
Title (Chinese): 《拍球舞》
Title (Romanization): "Paiqiu wu"
Description: Zhang Jun (张均 1935-2012) was a pioneer of the genre known as "Oriental Dance" (东方舞), in particular the dances of South and Southeast Asia. Born in Hubei, Zhang joined the "New Peace" (新安) performance ensemble (later the Shanghai Experimental Opera Theater) in Shanghai in 1950. From late 1954 to mid-1955, Zhang travelled to India, Burma, and Indonesia on a Chinese Cultural Delegation led by Dai Ailian. In 1956, Zhang entered the Beijing Dance School, where she became a founding member of the Oriental Music and Dance Course, and in 1962, she was a founding member of the Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble (东方歌舞团, est. 1962), a national-level ensemble based in Beijing that specialized in the dances of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Between 1980-1981, Zhang received intensive training in multiple styles of Indian classical dance at the Darpana Academy in India. In China, she pursued advanced study in Indian religious history at Peking University and published one of the first Chinese-language books on bharata natyam.
Date: 1958

"Dance with Ball"

Title (English): "Dance with Ball"
Title (Chinese): 《拍球舞》
Title (Romanization): "Paiqiu wu"
Description: Zhang Jun (张均 1935-2012) was a pioneer of the genre known as "Oriental Dance" (东方舞), in particular the dances of South and Southeast Asia. Born in Hubei, Zhang joined the "New Peace" (新安) performance ensemble (later the Shanghai Experimental Opera Theater) in Shanghai in 1950. From late 1954 to mid-1955, Zhang travelled to India, Burma, and Indonesia on a Chinese Cultural Delegation led by Dai Ailian. In 1956, Zhang entered the Beijing Dance School, where she became a founding member of the Oriental Music and Dance Course, and in 1962, she was a founding member of the Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble (东方歌舞团, est. 1962), a national-level ensemble based in Beijing that specialized in the dances of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Between 1980-1981, Zhang received intensive training in multiple styles of Indian classical dance at the Darpana Academy in India. In China, she pursued advanced study in Indian religious history at Peking University and published one of the first Chinese-language books on bharata natyam.
Date: 1958

Balinese dance

Title (English): Balinese dance
Title (Chinese): 巴厘舞
Title (Romanization): Bali wu
Description: Zhang Jun (张均 1935-2012) was a pioneer of the genre known as "Oriental Dance" (东方舞), in particular the dances of South and Southeast Asia. Born in Hubei, Zhang joined the "New Peace" (新安) performance ensemble (later the Shanghai Experimental Opera Theater) in Shanghai in 1950. From late 1954 to mid-1955, Zhang travelled to India, Burma, and Indonesia on a Chinese Cultural Delegation led by Dai Ailian. In 1956, Zhang entered the Beijing Dance School, where she became a founding member of the Oriental Music and Dance Course, and in 1962, she was a founding member of the Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble (东方歌舞团, est. 1962), a national-level ensemble based in Beijing that specialized in the dances of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Between 1980-1981, Zhang received intensive training in multiple styles of Indian classical dance at the Darpana Academy in India. In China, she pursued advanced study in Indian religious history at Peking University and published one of the first Chinese-language books on bharata natyam.

"Dance with Ball"

Title (English): "Dance with Ball"
Title (Chinese): 《拍球舞》
Title (Romanization): "Paiqiu wu"
Description: Zhang Jun (张均 1935-2012) was a pioneer of the genre known as "Oriental Dance" (东方舞), in particular the dances of South and Southeast Asia. Born in Hubei, Zhang joined the "New Peace" (新安) performance ensemble (later the Shanghai Experimental Opera Theater) in Shanghai in 1950. From late 1954 to mid-1955, Zhang travelled to India, Burma, and Indonesia on a Chinese Cultural Delegation led by Dai Ailian. In 1956, Zhang entered the Beijing Dance School, where she became a founding member of the Oriental Music and Dance Course, and in 1962, she was a founding member of the Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble (东方歌舞团, est. 1962), a national-level ensemble based in Beijing that specialized in the dances of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Between 1980-1981, Zhang received intensive training in multiple styles of Indian classical dance at the Darpana Academy in India. In China, she pursued advanced study in Indian religious history at Peking University and published one of the first Chinese-language books on bharata natyam.
Date: 1958

"Dance with Ball"

Title (English): "Dance with Ball"
Title (Chinese): 《拍球舞》
Title (Romanization): "Paiqiu wu"
Description: Zhang Jun (张均 1935-2012) was a pioneer of the genre known as "Oriental Dance" (东方舞), in particular the dances of South and Southeast Asia. Born in Hubei, Zhang joined the "New Peace" (新安) performance ensemble (later the Shanghai Experimental Opera Theater) in Shanghai in 1950. From late 1954 to mid-1955, Zhang travelled to India, Burma, and Indonesia on a Chinese Cultural Delegation led by Dai Ailian. In 1956, Zhang entered the Beijing Dance School, where she became a founding member of the Oriental Music and Dance Course, and in 1962, she was a founding member of the Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble (东方歌舞团, est. 1962), a national-level ensemble based in Beijing that specialized in the dances of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Between 1980-1981, Zhang received intensive training in multiple styles of Indian classical dance at the Darpana Academy in India. In China, she pursued advanced study in Indian religious history at Peking University and published one of the first Chinese-language books on bharata natyam.
Date: 1958

Balinese dance

Title (English): Balinese dance
Title (Chinese): 巴厘舞
Title (Romanization): Bali wu
Description: Zhang Jun (张均 1935-2012) was a pioneer of the genre known as "Oriental Dance" (东方舞), in particular the dances of South and Southeast Asia. Born in Hubei, Zhang joined the "New Peace" (新安) performance ensemble (later the Shanghai Experimental Opera Theater) in Shanghai in 1950. From late 1954 to mid-1955, Zhang travelled to India, Burma, and Indonesia on a Chinese Cultural Delegation led by Dai Ailian. In 1956, Zhang entered the Beijing Dance School, where she became a founding member of the Oriental Music and Dance Course, and in 1962, she was a founding member of the Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble (东方歌舞团, est. 1962), a national-level ensemble based in Beijing that specialized in the dances of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Between 1980-1981, Zhang received intensive training in multiple styles of Indian classical dance at the Darpana Academy in India. In China, she pursued advanced study in Indian religious history at Peking University and published one of the first Chinese-language books on bharata natyam.

Xiao Suhua

Title (English): Xiao Suhua
Title (Chinese): 肖苏华
Title (Romanization): Xiao Suhua
Description: Xiao Suhua (肖苏华 b. 1937) studied ballet and European folk dance in the former Soviet Union from the age of 7. In 1954, he tested into the Beijing Dance School, and in 1959, he graduated to become a ballet instructor at the School. Xiao performed important roles in early Chinese productions of Giselle and Le Corsaire. In 1987-88, Xiao studied choreography in the former Soviet Union, after which he served as a professor of choreography at the Beijing Dance Academy. From the early 1990s onward, Xiao was a major promoter of contemporary and experimental ballet in China. He serves regularly on the judging panels of international ballet competitions and has published many books on ballet technique and choreographic theory.
Date: 1962

Xiao Suhua

Title (English): Xiao Suhua
Title (Chinese): 肖苏华
Title (Romanization): Xiao Suhua
Description: Xiao Suhua (肖苏华 b. 1937) studied ballet and European folk dance in the former Soviet Union from the age of 7. In 1954, he tested into the Beijing Dance School, and in 1959, he graduated to become a ballet instructor at the School. Xiao performed important roles in early Chinese productions of Giselle and Le Corsaire. In 1987-88, Xiao studied choreography in the former Soviet Union, after which he served as a professor of choreography at the Beijing Dance Academy. From the early 1990s onward, Xiao was a major promoter of contemporary and experimental ballet in China. He serves regularly on the judging panels of international ballet competitions and has published many books on ballet technique and choreographic theory.
Date: 1962

Xiao Suhua

Title (English): Xiao Suhua
Title (Chinese): 肖苏华
Title (Romanization): Xiao Suhua
Description: Xiao Suhua (肖苏华 b. 1937) studied ballet and European folk dance in the former Soviet Union from the age of 7. In 1954, he tested into the Beijing Dance School, and in 1959, he graduated to become a ballet instructor at the School. Xiao performed important roles in early Chinese productions of Giselle and Le Corsaire. In 1987-88, Xiao studied choreography in the former Soviet Union, after which he served as a professor of choreography at the Beijing Dance Academy. From the early 1990s onward, Xiao was a major promoter of contemporary and experimental ballet in China. He serves regularly on the judging panels of international ballet competitions and has published many books on ballet technique and choreographic theory.
Date: 1959

Xiao Suhua

Title (English): Xiao Suhua
Title (Chinese): 肖苏华
Title (Romanization): Xiao Suhua
Description: Xiao Suhua (肖苏华 b. 1937) studied ballet and European folk dance in the former Soviet Union from the age of 7. In 1954, he tested into the Beijing Dance School, and in 1959, he graduated to become a ballet instructor at the School. Xiao performed important roles in early Chinese productions of Giselle and Le Corsaire. In 1987-88, Xiao studied choreography in the former Soviet Union, after which he served as a professor of choreography at the Beijing Dance Academy. From the early 1990s onward, Xiao was a major promoter of contemporary and experimental ballet in China. He serves regularly on the judging panels of international ballet competitions and has published many books on ballet technique and choreographic theory.
Date: 1959

"Snake Dance"

Title (English): "Snake Dance"
Title (Chinese): 《蛇舞》
Title (Romanization): "She wu
Description: In 1959, the Beijing Dance School premiered an original dance drama called "Fish Beauty" that blended elements of ballet and Chinese classical dance. Chen Ailian (陈爱莲 b. 1939) performed the leading role. Here, we see her dancing one of the most famous duets in the work, the scene called "Snake Dance." This piece became a award-winning free-standing short dance work.

"Snake Dance"

Title (English): "Snake Dance"
Title (Chinese): 《蛇舞》
Title (Romanization): "She wu"
Description: In 1959, the Beijing Dance School premiered an original dance drama called "Fish Beauty" that blended elements of ballet and Chinese classical dance. Chen Ailian (陈爱莲 b. 1939) performed the leading role. Here, we see her dancing one of the most famous duets in the work, the scene called "Snake Dance." This piece became a award-winning free-standing short dance work.
Date: 1960s

"Spring, River, and Flowers on Moonlit Night"

Title (English): "Spring, River, and Flowers on Moonlit Night"
Title (Chinese): 《春江花月夜》
Title (Romanization): "Chun jiang hua yue ye"
Description: In 1962, the Beijing Dance School created the solo "Spring, River, and Flowers on a Moonlit Night," which represented China at the World Federation of Youth and Students dance festival in Budapest that year. Here, we see Chen Ailian (陈爱莲 b. 1939) performign this work. She won an award for this piece, making it one of the most canonical Chinese classical dance solos of all time.
Date: 1962

"Fish Beauty"

Title (English): "Fish Beauty"
Title (Chinese): 《鱼美人》
Title (Romanization): "Yu meiren"
Description: In 1959, the Beijing Dance School premiered an original dance drama called "Fish Beauty" that blended elements of ballet and Chinese classical dance. Chen Ailian (陈爱莲 b. 1939) performed the leading role.

"Fish Beauty"

Title (English): "Fish Beauty"
Title (Chinese): 《鱼美人》
Title (Romanization): "Yu meiren"
Description: In 1959, the Beijing Dance School premiered an original dance drama called "Fish Beauty" that blended elements of ballet and Chinese classical dance. Chen Ailian (陈爱莲 b. 1939) performed the leading role.
Date: 1959

"Fish Beauty"

Title (English): "Fish Beauty"
Title (Chinese): 《鱼美人》
Title (Romanization): "Yu meiren"
Description: In 1959, the Beijing Dance School premiered an original dance drama called "Fish Beauty" that blended elements of ballet and Chinese classical dance. Chen Ailian (陈爱莲 b. 1939) performed the leading role.
Date: 1959

1950s Dance Drama

Title (English): 1950s Dance Drama
Title (Chinese): 五十年代的舞剧
Title (Romanization): 50年代的舞剧
Description: Chen Ailian (陈爱莲 b. 1939) is one of the most celebrated Chinese dance performers of the twentieth century. Born in Shanghai, she entered the Beijing Dance School in its inaugural class of 1954. Soon after graduation, she became a soloist in the China Experimental Opera Theater (later the Chinese Opera and Dance Drama Theater).
Date: 1950s

"Snake Dance"

Title (English): "Snake Dance"
Title (Chinese): 《蛇舞》
Title (Romanization): "She wu"
Description: In 1959, the Beijing Dance School premiered an original dance drama called "Fish Beauty" that blended elements of ballet and Chinese classical dance. Chen Ailian (陈爱莲 b. 1939) performed the leading role. Here, we see her dancing one of the most famous duets in the work, the scene called "Snake Dance." This piece became a award-winning free-standing short dance work.
Date: 1959

"Shepherd's Flute"

Title (English): "Shepherd's Flute"
Title (Chinese): 《牧笛》
Title (Romanization): "Mu di"
Description: In 1955, the Beijing Dance School created the duet "Shepherd's Flute," which represented China at the World Federation of Youth and Students dance festival in Moscow in 1957. Here, we see Chen Ailian (陈爱莲 b. 1939) rehearsing to perform the piece for Mao Zedong.
Date: 1957

"Shepherd's Flute"

Title (English): "Shepherd's Flute"
Title (Chinese): 《牧笛》
Title (Romanization): "Mu di"
Description: In 1955, the Beijing Dance School created the duet "Shepherd's Flute," which represented China at the World Federation of Youth and Students dance festival in Moscow in 1957. Here, we see Chen Ailian (陈爱莲 b. 1939) performing the piece for Mao Zedong.
Date: 1957

"Shepherd's Flute"

Title (English): "Shepherd's Flute"
Title (Chinese): 《牧笛》
Title (Romanization): "Mu Di"
Description: Lü Yisheng (吕艺生 b. 1937) and Wang Peiying (王佩英) perform the modern Han folk dance duet "Shepherd's Flute," premiered at the Beijing Dance School in 1955. This piece represented China at the World Federation of Youth and Students in Moscow in 1957.
Date: 1957

Zhao Dexian with Pyotr Gusev

Title (English): Zhao Dexian with Pyotr Gusev
Title (Chinese): 赵得贤与古雪夫
Title (Romanization): Zhao Dexian yu Guxuefu
Description: This is a portrait of Korean dancer and choreographer Zhao Dexian (赵得贤/조 득현, 1913-2002). Zhao was born in Pyongyang (in modern-day North Korea) in 1913 and emigrated to Harbin (in modern-day China) in 1938, where he joined a Russian ballet ensemble. After 1948, Zhao spent the majority of his career at the Yanbian Song and Dance Ensemble (延边歌舞团), based in Yanji, China. A founding member of the China Dancers Association, Zhao was one of modern China's first local experts in Russian ballet and modern Korean dance. This photograph shows Zhao with Pyotr Gusev, who directed a Choreography Training Course at the Bejing Dance School. Zhao was a student in this course in 1958-1959.
Date: 1959

Zhao Dexian at the Beijing Dance School

Title (English): Zhao Dexian at the Beijing Dance School
Title (Chinese): 赵得贤在北京舞蹈学校
Title (Romanization): Zhao Dexian zai Beijing Wudao Xuexiao
Description: This is a portrait of Korean dancer and choreographer Zhao Dexian (赵得贤/조 득현, 1913-2002). Zhao was born in Pyongyang (in modern-day North Korea) in 1913 and emigrated to Harbin (in modern-day China) in 1938, where he joined a Russian ballet ensemble. After 1948, Zhao spent the majority of his career at the Yanbian Song and Dance Ensemble (延边歌舞团), based in Yanji, China. A founding member of the China Dancers Association, Zhao was one of modern China's first local experts in Russian ballet and modern Korean dance. This photograph shows Zhao in a ballet class at the Bejing Dance School.
Date: 1957

Zhao Dexian at the Beijing Dance School

Title (English): Zhao Dexian at the Beijing Dance School
Title (Chinese): 赵得贤在北京舞蹈学校
Title (Romanization): Zhao Dexian zai Beijing Wudao Xuexiao
Description: This is a portrait of Korean dancer and choreographer Zhao Dexian (赵得贤/조 득현, 1913-2002). Zhao was born in Pyongyang (in modern-day North Korea) in 1913 and emigrated to Harbin (in modern-day China) in 1938, where he joined a Russian ballet ensemble. After 1948, Zhao spent the majority of his career at the Yanbian Song and Dance Ensemble (延边歌舞团), based in Yanji, China. A founding member of the China Dancers Association, Zhao was one of modern China's first local experts in Russian ballet and modern Korean dance. This photograph shows Zhao accompanying a teacher from Moscow at the Bejing Dance School Ballet Class. Zhao is on the far left. Dai Ailian is third from the left.
Date: 1954

Zhao Dexian at the Beijing Dance School

Title (English): Zhao Dexian at the Beijing Dance School
Title (Chinese): 赵得贤在北京舞蹈学校
Title (Romanization): Zhao Dexian zai Beijing Wudao Xuexiao
Description: This is a portrait of Korean dancer and choreographer Zhao Dexian (赵得贤/조 득현, 1913-2002). Zhao was born in Pyongyang (in modern-day North Korea) in 1913 and emigrated to Harbin (in modern-day China) in 1938, where he joined a Russian ballet ensemble. After 1948, Zhao spent the majority of his career at the Yanbian Song and Dance Ensemble (延边歌舞团), based in Yanji, China. A founding member of the China Dancers Association, Zhao was one of modern China's first local experts in Russian ballet and modern Korean dance. This photograph shows Zhao accompanying a teacher from Moscow at the Bejing Dance School Teacher Training Course. Zhao is third from the right.
Date: 1954

Beijing Dance School Graduation Photo

Title (English): Beijing Dance School Graduation Photo
Title (Chinese): 北京舞蹈学校毕业照
Title (Romanization): Beijing wudao xuexiao biye zhao
Description: This is the photo from Siqintariha’s (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) graduation from the Beijing Dance School (北京舞蹈学院) in July, 1956. Siqintariha is in the second row eighth from the left. Dai Ailian (戴爱莲 1916-2006), President of the School, is in the front row sixth from the right.
Date: 1956

Siqintariha and Jia Zuoguang in "Ordos Dance"

Title (English): Siqintariha and Jia Zuoguang in "Ordos Dance"
Title (Chinese): 斯琴塔日哈与贾作光(“鄂尔多斯舞”)
Title (Romanization): Siqintariha yu Jia Zuoguang (E'erduosi wu)
Description: This is a close-up of the 1955 Mongol dance work “Ordos Dance.” In 1955, the People’s Republic of China received four awards for new works of national folk dance presented at an international dance competition held at the World Festival of Youth and Students in Warsaw, Poland. Among them, one of two first place awards went to “Ordos Dance,” the work pictured here. It is a four-minute Mongol-themed group dance piece created by a Manchu choreographer from named Jia Zuoguang (贾作光, 1923-2017) and starring Mongol dancer Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932). It used music composed by Ewenke musician Ming Tai and was originally premiered in 1953, at the Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Ensemble (内蒙古歌舞团). Later, in 1955, it was restaged at the Beijing Dance School (北京舞蹈学校). "Ordos Dance" is one of the most famous works of Mongol dance in China. It is named after Ordos, a region of Inner Mongolia.
Date: 1964

“Ordos Dance”

Title (English): “Ordos Dance”
Title (Chinese): 《鄂尔多斯舞》
Title (Romanization): “E'erduosi wu”
Description: In 1955, the People’s Republic of China received four awards for new works of national folk dance presented at an international dance competition held at the World Festival of Youth and Students in Warsaw, Poland. Among them, one of two first place awards went to “Ordos Dance,” the work pictured here. It is a four-minute Mongol-themed group dance piece created by a Manchu choreographer from named Jia Zuoguang (贾作光, 1923-2017) and starring Mongol dancer Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932). It used music composed by Ewenke musician Ming Tai and was originally premiered in 1953, at the Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Ensemble (内蒙古歌舞团). Later, in 1955, it was restaged at the Beijing Dance School (北京舞蹈学校). "Ordos Dance" is one of the most famous works of Mongol dance in China. It is named after Ordos, a region of Inner Mongolia.
Date: 1955

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Balinese dance

"Dance with Ball"

"Dance with Ball"

Balinese dance

"Dance with Ball"

"Dance with Ball"

Balinese dance

Xiao Suhua

Xiao Suhua

Xiao Suhua

Xiao Suhua

"Snake Dance"

"Snake Dance"

"Spring, River, and Flowers on Moonlit Night"

"Fish Beauty"

"Fish Beauty"

"Fish Beauty"

1950s Dance Drama

"Snake Dance"

"Shepherd's Flute"

"Shepherd's Flute"

"Shepherd's Flute"

Zhao Dexian with Pyotr Gusev

Zhao Dexian at the Beijing Dance School

Zhao Dexian at the Beijing Dance School

Zhao Dexian at the Beijing Dance School

Beijing Dance School Graduation Photo

Siqintariha and Jia Zuoguang in "Ordos Dance"

“Ordos Dance”

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