As the quality of life has improved across China, so has the proliferation of dance studios. These dance lovers come in all sizes and ages, such as the popular "dancing grannies" who take over public squares at night. 

CGTN spoke with a professional dancer about the distinctive way dance has developed in China. 

Yang Hailong graduated from the Dance School of Minzu University of China (MUC) and has performed for Beijing Dance Drama and Opera, Beijing Dance theater. "Painted Skin," his dance work, was selected for the 17th Shanghai International Art Festival "Rising Artists' Works."

Like many people who don't know the modern dance, he didn't know the essence of modern dance very well after graduating from the folk dance.

"However, after I started working, I came into contact with modern ballet, giving me the most direct feeling of 'freedom'," said Yang.

While the importance of ballet in all dance training is pretty much universally acknowledged, Yang Hailong, however, has explored a unique combination of ballet and folk dance.

In his opinion, modern dance is anti-tradition, which is not only reflected in clothing but also reflected in body language. "For the dancers, they have jettisoned pointy shoes, tights, and certain aesthetic norms," he said.

"It has no standards. It doesn't require much flexibility of your legs," Yang added. In his eyes, modern dance is more like a brain-opening exercise. It's more a way of using your imagination to develop your body.

Referring to his work "Painted Skin," he said he designed it to explore a combination of Chinese elements and modern Western dance. He hopes to "bump" Western dance with Chinese stories, and see what it feels like.

"Painted Skin" is one of the best stories from "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio." It satirizes how people are adept at "painting skins" for themselves, dressing themselves up with an appealing exterior while hiding a debased soul within.

This structure, akin to an optical illusion that switches back and forth, conveys the essence of the work and an Eastern concept of beauty.

This work was commissioned by the Shanghai Art Festival in 2018 and received a good response. It was also staged in September at the Suzzane Dellal Center in Tel Aviv, Israel, which is the special international section of the theater's 30th-anniversary celebration.

Even so, finding work as a professional dancer is not easy, so an increasing number of dancers are also choosing to develop their career planning through competitions and studios.

In order to support the dream of more young dancers, the relevant departments of the state have also given a lot of support, such as the "Rising Artists' Works" program of the Shanghai International Art Festival, "The New" dance festival in Beijing, which has been launched for five years, and more and more fund support.

As Yang said, "to be understood" is not the only purpose that the dance wants to convey. Everyone has different ideas about entering the theater, so keep an open mind to see, to accept, and maybe to make delightful discoveries.

Videographers: Ace Liang, Zhu Shuying, Yu Qianhui

Video editor: Ace Liang

Cover image designer: Li Wenyi