A Buddhist scholar in motion

Traditionally, folk dances tend to highlight passionate expressions and dazzling skills. To create a contemporary dance theater production with powerful storytelling, Tong invited various dance coaches, choreographers and theater directors to train the dancers in ballet, modern dance, and theatrical performance over six months, before the show's rehearsals began.

Dancer of Uygur ethnic group Mayire Aimaitijiang plays the mother of Kumarajiva in the show. The 38-year-old dancer says, instead of creating a character, she believes, "I've shouldered a mission."

With her performance, she hopes to break through the limitations of traditional folk dance and merge ancient culture with modern vitality through comprehensive dance expression. "I want audiences to see that the dance from Xinjiang is not just passionate and exuberant but also has profound cultural depth."

Tong has presented several of her creations at the Shanghai International Arts Festival in the past and served as a board member for the Rising Artists Works project, an initiative dedicated to promoting emerging artists.

By premiering Qiuci in Shanghai, "I hope to take advantage of the festival and share the story of the ancient Silk Road with the world," she says.