Over the moon

Adapted from the award-winning novel of the same title, the dance drama production has toured worldwide with over 150 shows since its premiere in 2015. CHINA DAILY

Bi, who came to Beijing to join the 10th anniversary celebration of the dance drama, has expressed his admiration for Wang's adaptation.

"When I first handed over the rights to Wang 12 years ago, I did not know her well. But after watching the premiere in 2015, I was profoundly impressed," says Bi. "Wang's talent is remarkable. She brought a character that had only existed in my mind to life on the stage. Some of the changes she made in the adaptation went beyond my novel and through her body. She conveyed the feelings that these characters brought her through the dance production. She showcased the inner richness and beauty of the characters."

Bi also emphasizes that The Moon Opera doesn't merely portray a female character but a unique soul from the East.

"Wang captured this essence and made it her own," he says. "I hope it will have a long-lasting impact and that Wang's work will not only belong to Chinese stages but will appeal globally."

Born and raised in Tianjin, Wang began taking dance classes at an early age because her mother wanted her to stay healthy through dance. Wang's talent was recognized at age 9 while she was enrolled at the primary school of the Beijing Dance Academy. There, she received training in classical Chinese dance, ballet techniques and contemporary dance. Later, she studied at the Beijing Dance Academy and won national dance competitions. After graduating in 2003, she began teaching at the university. She continues to be a member of Beijing Dance Academy Youth Dance Company.

Wang founded her own dance studio in 2009. The same year, she launched Yabin and Her Friends, an annual dance production series, which she designed as a platform to bring together Chinese and international choreographers to create an annual dance piece.

The Moon Opera was the seventh production of the Yabin and Her Friends series, which joined artists from China, France, the United Kingdom and Poland.

As Wang says, the production also began a chapter in her career of exploring the intersection between literature and dance. In recent years, she has continued to adapt literary works into dance dramas, drawing on the emotional depth and complex narratives of novels to create multidimensional productions.

In The Lady From the Sea, adapted from the classic play of the same title by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in 1888, Wang took on the role of Ellida, exploring the shifting spaces of time and memory. With Journey to the West, an international collaboration between Chinese and French artists, she merged the classic Chinese literary work with dance to deliver a powerful narrative of spiritual transformation after enduring hardship.

For Wang, these adaptations are more than just artistic projects — they are channels to connect with the world around her.

"Dance is my best way of communicating with the world, and literature helps me see the world more clearly," she says. "Literary works are like soil for my imagination, grounding me as an artist and allowing me to empathize with the characters in ways that go beyond the surface."