Shape shifters

Ballerina Zhou Yue of the Affiliated Secondary School of Beijing Dance Academy on stage at the event. "Chinese choreographers often draw inspiration from China's folk tales or classical literature, but on the other hand, the dance style itself could tell a Chinese story with its exquisite expression and reserved movements." Creating a Chinese ballet and the Chinese method of ballet instruction is what the Beijing Dance Academy aspires to achieve, apart from researching and rehearsing classical and modern ballet pieces, Zou says. This year marks the 40th anniversary of dance being incorporated into China's higher education system, when the Beijing Dance School turned into the Beijing Dance Academy in 1978. "As China's only specialized higher institute in dance education, the Beijing Dance Academy has the responsibility and duty to lead the development of dance education, promote educational exchanges and the international development of dance education," said Guo Lei, president of the Beijing Dance Academy, during a dance education symposium after the competition.