Without a dancing teacher, the girl was able to perform difficult dance movements that require a high level of balance, flexibility and body control.
Her talent attracted the attention of veteran dancer Zhang Ping and her husband, Guan Yu, a ballet teacher at Beijing Dance Academy, who later gave her systematical instructions. And the couple initiated a program that runs free dance training sessions for girls from impoverished families in the mountainous regions to help them gain self-confidence and appreciate their own beauty while embracing the art form.
In October 2019, Zhang brought Gangyun and some other girls involved in the program to Beijing and they together performed in a program hosted by China Central Television.
"We don't know if dancing will bring great prospects for Gangyun, but we are pretty sure that she completely enjoys herself when she dances. And that's what really matters," says director Sun, adding that she will continue to use her camera to document the stories of other girls, too.
