Young choreographers and their works shine in winter

Modern dance Red Chamber Has No Dream, one of the seven new works of young choreographers supported by the 2016 National Youth Dance Development, Nov 21, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Promoted and supported by the 2016 National Youth Dance Development, young creators and dancers produced seven works, including Red Chamber Has No Dream and You Are So Strange at the Nation Center for the Performing Arts and Beijing Dancing Academy in the past week.

Nian Yunhua, choreographed one of the seven creations, Great Image, One Thought.

"I added some traditional Chinese elements in this year’s creation. And I want to specially highlight music in the dance," Nian said.

"We all know that music is very important in the performance, and it's pretty difficult for musicians to compose the very melody that could perfectly match the dance. Sometimes composers need to be more familiar with the dance than the performers."

In her work, dancers gave a confronting performance in bizarre costumes and with very dramatic background music.

Many audiences find it difficult to understand modern dance as they want to know the meaning of the dance, and what dancers are trying to express on the stage.

However, some modern dances have no meaning at all.

"Sometimes the willingness to tell a story in dances will constrain the creativity. To me, modern dance doesn't need to have any special meaning. Maybe it is just an experiment of body gestures and movements," Nian said.

This year is the third since the Chinese Dancers Association launched its National Youth Dance Development plan which aims to promote young choreographers and dancers. So far, 18 modern dances from 23 young choreographers have been brought to the stage. The dancers and choreographers supported by the plan not only showed their talents in theaters, but also volunteer in rural areas.

They have also been given opportunities to communicate with international choreographers and dancers.

The show will also be performed in Shanghai from Nov 30 to Dec 4.