Dancers competing in the finals of a street dance competition held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, central China, on October 16, 2023 (Xinhua/Lu Peng)
BEIJING, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) — In the summer of 2023, a domestic film titled “One and Only” captured the interest of Chinese audiences and caused ripples at the box office.
The film, which tells the story of break dancers against the backdrop of the 2023 Asian Games, grossed 913 million yuan (approximately US$128.6 million), ranking 15th in China’s 2023 box office rankings. Secured.
In addition to this film, various shows and live-action performances play a pivotal role in spotlighting the art of breakdancing. Most notably, breakdancing will debut as an official sport at his 2023 Asian Games and is scheduled to debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Once considered a product of Western subcultures and with limited potential for widespread public acceptance, breakdance has undergone a transformation along with other forms of street dance. Today, after many years of development, street dance has transcended its niche origins and emerged as a vibrant cultural phenomenon.
Recently, the China Hip-Hop Union Committee (CHUC), affiliated with the China Dancers Association, celebrated its 10th anniversary. Established in September 2013 to promote the development of street dance, the committee has been making notable efforts in this regard for almost a decade.
“China’s street dance industry currently includes multiple business forms such as competitions, performances, variety shows, and cultural product development,” said Liu Lian, an official at the country’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. He added that he is working hard to meet the needs of the public. It responds to cultural needs and vividly expresses the vibrant creativity of his street dancers.
According to Liu, the most important reason for the increasing popularity of street dance in China is its integration with Chinese culture, especially traditional music and dance. Over the years, dancers have created street dances that incorporate uniquely Chinese elements, such as revolutionary songs, ethnic culture, and traditional art forms.
For example, at this year’s Dancing Mountain City Championships, an international street dance tournament held in Chongqing, southwest China, group dance competitions included street hip-hop, jazz dance, and a unique mix of traditional drumming. The team that showed the best blend won. Miao dance.
“The Chinese street dance genre, which takes inspiration from Chinese culture and incorporates Chinese elements, is currently flourishing,” said Lin Qingjing, vice president of the Fujian Provincial Street Dance Union. Lin pointed out that the fusion of street dance and China’s outstanding traditional culture has now become a common artistic pursuit for Chinese street dancers.
In addition to focusing on incorporating Chinese elements, the development of Chinese street dance also emphasizes inclusivity. Street dancing, an art form that originated in Western countries, has now become a means of communication between young people in China and abroad.
“Many competitions and variety shows not only included China’s top street dancers, but also excellent dancers from other countries,” said Xia Rui, CHUC secretary general. “Foreign dancers will also have the opportunity to learn about Chinese street dance and the inclusiveness of Chinese culture while being introduced to dance moves from their home countries.”
Experts said that the key to the future development of street dance in China is the training of experts.
“Although the street dance genre has made remarkable development, there is still a lack of theoretical framework and curriculum for street dance choreography,” said Yang Qiao, a teacher at the Sichuan Provincial Conservatory of Music. “There is a need to strengthen the development of the field in areas such as street dance performance, education and choreography.”
So far, about 20 higher education institutions in China have developed classes on street dance.
“We hope that China’s street dance industry will develop better in the future and more professional street dancers will emerge,” Xia said. “Street dance, as an art form, can then be better used to tell the story of China.” ■
