On September 13th, the 11th NTD Television “World Chinese Classical Dance Competition” entered its third day of competition, with 73 contestants who made it to the semi-finals participating in the day’s events.
Chinese classical dance is not just a form of artistic expression, but also embodies the spiritual essence of China’s five thousand years of culture. This year’s Chinese classical dance competition showcased a rich variety of performances, revealing the profound connections and integration between dance and history, philosophy, and emotions. From pieces like “Roaming at Ease” and “Breezes Rippling Out the Water,” dancers interpreted the Daoist concept of carefree wandering and the unity of man and nature with graceful movements. Pieces like “Passers-by in the World,” “Fan in a Foreign Land,” and “Drunkenness” expressed deep insights into life’s impermanence, the experience of being a stranger in a foreign land, and the ebb and flow of emotions through delicate dance language. These works combined ethereal imagery with poetic thinking, turning the stage into a flowing humanistic scroll painting where time and space intertwined and scenarios unfolded.
On the other hand, epic works like “Sealing the Wolf at its Lair,” “Sleeping on Brushwood and Tasting Gall,” “Yanmen Pass,” and “Dreaming Back to the Soldiers’ Camp” exuded a strong heroic quality, portraying the loyalty, aspirations, and sorrows of ancient warriors. Dancers conveyed a deep sense of historical sentiment and national spirit through vigorous movements and solid, rustic forms. The entire competition was not just a showcase of dance skills but also a visual feast and spiritual cleansing that fused historical memory, cultural spirit, and Eastern aesthetics.
Below are some highlights from the junior male division contestants during the semi-finals.