Every spring, the National Ballet of China hosts a creative workshop that gives young choreographers a platform to experiment with new ideas and movement styles.
This year, the 16th edition of the workshop was staged at Beijing's Tianqiao Theatre from May 1 to 3 under the theme "Core·Journey".
"Core", representing the essence of artistic intention and creativity, once again sparked the imagination of young choreographers, guiding audiences from the confines of the stage to the expansive landscapes of life and the human spirit.
Launched in 2010 as a public welfare initiative to nurture emerging choreographic talent, the workshop has, over the past 16 years, helped dozens of young artists develop from first-time experimenters into mature creators.
This year's workshop, led once again by director Zhang Zhenxin, featured 13 young creators from China and abroad. Drawing inspiration from traditional culture, classic literature, and contemporary social life, they presented works full of imagination and contemporary relevance.
Actors She Zhaohuan and Teng Jiankai, known for earlier productions Wishing You Health and Us, explored emotional conflict through a deceptively simple question: "Why bother?" Set to the passionate melodies of Carmen, their work sought tenderness and emotional release amid exhaustion and uncertainty.
Young actor Sun Haifeng found inspiration deep within, using Chopin's nocturne to express the journey from tension to inner peace.
Su Yang paid tribute to the sacrifices of earlier generations by distilling the spirit of the Long March into a symbolic stage gesture, transforming history into a source of contemporary reflection.
First-year company member and Chinese dance performer Lu Chenghao made his choreography debut by blending elements of Chinese dance with a metaphorical mountain journey to depict the release of inner restraints and spiritual growth.
Veteran dancer Liu Xuechen, an avid literature reader, reinterpreted Cao Yu's classic play Thunderstorm through the perspective of the character Sifeng, giving renewed emotional depth and agency to the female role.
Guest director Wang Le, known for his 2021 workshop work Traces, fused the delicate poetry of smoke and willow with sharp, luminous visual effects to express the quiet resilience and subtle power of women.
Newly invited German choreographer Edvin Revazov combined Ravel's melodies with the imagery of the moon, linking a shared romantic sensibility across cultures and allowing dancers to interpret longing and anticipation under its glow.
Choreographer Chen Zihao pushed the workshop into futuristic territory by incorporating robotics into performances, exploring the evolving relationship between technology and humanity through interactions between dancers and machines.
Audiences were also treated to performances by students from the ballet company's dance school. Inspired by traditional Chinese culture, mechanical rhythms, and personal introspection, the young dancers showcased the vitality and promise of ballet's next generation.
