Since the 1980s, China’s society and economy have undergone massive change, and the speed of modernization has continuously increased. This means that the urban-rural divide has required greater attention. In the midst of political, economic, and legal modernization, how can the deep philosophical outlook, moral and cultural system, and artistic spirit of China’s long-lasting rural cultural model continue to draw its worldviews and values from tradition? This is a problem not only for those who work in the realm of ideas but also has become a keen focus of attention for dance artists around the globe to explore through new dance creation. This talk will explore the work of several young contemporary dance choreographers based in Beijing who are currently attracting significant attention in China. Specifically, it will investigate the different ways these young choreographers are engaging with tradition in their work.

Mao Cui is Associate Professor of Dance Studies in the Humanities Institute at the Beijing Dance Academy. She holds a PhD in Dance Studies and is a member of the China Dancers Association, and she has been the recipient of several prestigious national and Beijing-level awards for her research and teaching. In 2016, she received China’s most competitive national-level social science research grant for her project titled “Twentieth-century American Modern Dance’s Borrowings from Eastern Culture and Their Relationship to its Transformations.”