Dancing From The Communist Cocoon - China

March 1999
A fascinating film with exclusive look at dramatically changing face of performing arts in China. Like so much in China, the entrepreneurial spirit is taking its toll.

In the past working for the state ballet company was highly regarded. The pain and hard work offered promising prospects and national status. Now the future of the old art is uncertain as the state rolls back it's funding. The Shanghai Ballet still clings to its worn out repertoire and struggles to fund new productions. Xin Lili is their prima ballerina, a classical grace who toes the company line. Her very new competition is Jin Xing, a prima donna with her own private and lucrative, modern dance company. Jin Xing's company has flourished under China's new market freedoms. Now the comparison with Xin Lili's career couldn't be starker. Jin earns pots of money; Xin Lili lives in a modest flat with her parents. Both dancers are at the top of their profession but their different lifestyles and sense of optimism starkly reveals the problems for the country as it emerges from communism.

Produced by ABC Australia
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

• Category

  News & Politics

[txgrl7]

Xin Lili looks tired and worn out. My heart goes out to her.

[Esti1969]

Xin Lili is a great lady!! Great documentary. Jin Xing is very special in her own way.

Shanghai ballet is great.

[ART4455491]

Xing li li is just one example among classical ballet dancers in china. Shanghai ballet is just a shadow of what it is in the 80s. Young dancers the cream of the crop are being attracted to foreign companies than staying in shanghai. Also shanghai ballet's boss Ha Mu Ti is a fucking bullshit asshole who should of never being born. If Shanghai ballet is ever going to rise again then they should stop opening back doors to accept bad dancers who's parents can 'donate' more money.

[pliok0tsambur]

great video, i only wish there were some subtitles...

[rockfilmers]

Yeh, just look at their human rights track record. Isn't it great? I wish I could live in a totalitarian government. Sarcasm

[kenny visser]

hahaha at 06:55 she is talking to the priminister of the Netherlands hahah

[vatoloco744]

that girl at 8:30 is pretty hot

[BoxingApe]

Communism made China the powerful country it is today. Viva Mao!

[paraparasakura]

sorry, i meant to say, one one hand Jin Xing's assessments on China's changing culture is certainly true. :) typo, mea culpa

[paraparasakura]

On one hand, Jin Xing's assessments on the changing nature of Chinese culture, it's a real shame to see the more traditional companies (not just ballet companies, but traditional dance/opera troupes) fall into disrepair. While I agree that China does need to progress into a more contemporary place,I also wish it could find that happy medium between contemporary and traditional, as to preserve the culture of China that has brought it to where it is today.