Chinese modern dance artist and celebrity talk show hostess Jin Xing appears sentimental discussing the European premiere of her spectacular show Random Goodbyes, staged in Brussels on Feb 7 and 8, just ahead of the Chinese New Year.
Jin Xing's Shanghai-based dance theater is celebrating its 25th anniversary, marking a significant milestone since its establishment in 1999.
"Actually, 25 years ago, when I established the modern dance company, I didn't think too much. I just thought maybe I find a group of dancers who love modern dance and are interested in dance with me, and that's it," she told China Daily in Brussels.
Everything would be just fine, she thought. But launching an independent and private dance company turned out to be no easy task.
"I couldn't register my company under my name because it had never happened before," she recalled.
China was changing fast then, and five years later the government authorities gave her the green light amid the country's reform and opening-up policies.
Jin described her company as a "perfect witness" of the change China has undergone across its economy and culture.
"Through 25 years, we have (had) tremendous changes. I am also very proud of that," she said.
She admits she had not expected then that she would be able to keep the private company for as long as 25 years, as it does not receive any government subsidies.
