Keeping in step with the times

"But dance is powerful. That's why we have so many people joining us for the event," says Chen Weiya, veteran director who has been appointed as the honorary president of the Beijing Dance Academy's School of Creative Studies.

Chen was the deputy director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. He attended the forum on Nov 1.

"Dance plays an important role in grand galas at national level as well as being popular among the public. People love dance," says Chen. "We have also incorporated new technologies and materials into dance, making the art form accessible to more people and expanding ideas about dance."

Besides guest speakers from China, the event invited about 80 international guests to share their views and ideas about dance online. Joey McKneely, a two-time Tony-nominated Broadway choreographer, talked about his views on "embracing the new dance century".

"Dance continues to redefine itself according to the generations that embrace the exploration of creativity. There is great opportunity to offer, in our classical ballet, folk dance, traditional dance and jazz dance, an alternative narrative," McKneely said during the forum on Nov 1.

"When it comes to dance in musicals, the traditional format doesn't really exist the way it did in the past. Audiences are young, sophisticated, internet savvy and hungry for entertainment that excites them.

"I find that a lot of directors of musicals don't like dance. It's because they don't understand it. Plus, most choreographers are only doing steps. Meaningless dance steps. Not based on character or emotion. Not connected to storytelling," he adds. "Choreographers need to become storytellers with their choreography. They need to take movement and connect it to an emotion and character."

Appointed by the Beijing Dance Academy to teach in the school's musical department, McKneely came to Beijing two months ago. He is the second foreign teacher the academy has announced since the new semester, which started in early September.