Recently, the Chinese classical dance performance Beauty Beyond Words achieved immense success with four shows across three Romanian cities—Sibiu, Arad, and Timișoara—accompanied by three cultural exchange events. This art exchange event represents a concrete step by Beijing Dance Academy (BDA) in implementing the “going global” strategy for China’s outstanding dance heritage. Using dance as a medium of communication, the event fostered meaningful intercultural dialogue, allowing the charm of Chinese classical dance to shine across the Balkan Peninsula.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “Throughout the long course of history, the Chinese nation has forged a great national spirit and fine traditional culture. They are the cultural genes that have sustained the Chinese nation to this day, and are also the spiritual driving force for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” Guided by this cultural awareness and a sense of historical mission, BDA actively responds to the call for cultural inheritance and development. It remains committed to building a center for the innovation and inheritance of Chinese dance culture, expanding the international influence of Chinese dance, and establishing a globally-oriented platform for dance education and exchange. BDA actively engages in international arts education initiatives, striving to elevate its international operating standards.
The international exchange event in Romania is a vivid manifestation of our guiding principle. The 19-member delegation was headed by Huang Sa, Deputy Director of BDA’s Center for Dance Teaching and Practice. The team leaders included Wang Zihan, Deputy Director of the Department of Chinese Classical Dance, Ding Lin, a faculty member of the same department, and Zhang Xidan from the Center for Dance Teaching and Practice. All student members were from the 2022 cohort of the Department of Chinese Classical Dance.
Sibiu
A Stunning Grand Finale at the Theatre Festival
On June 28, the delegation staged two consecutive performances of Beauty Beyond Words, a special program of Chinese classical dance, at the Radu Stanca National Theatre in Sibiu, bringing the 31st Sibiu International Theatre Festival to a successful close. As one of Europe’s leading theatre festivals, the event has drawn numerous performing arts troupes from around the world since its inception. This year, the participation of the BDA delegation infused the festival with a distinctive touch of Chinese culture.
Poster of Beauty Beyond Words for the 31st Sibiu International Theatre Festival
In the days leading up to the performance, the students and faculty faced a nearly six-hour time difference between Romania and Beijing. The team dynamically adjusted their schedules and ran mock rehearsals in advance to regain their peak form. To achieve the desired effect within the limited time for lighting rehearsal, the head of the delegation and the team leaders worked closely with the local lighting crew, fine-tuning formations and movements to suit the spatial layout of the theatre and ensuring each performance could achieve perfect synergy with the lighting design.
Both the afternoon and evening performances played to full houses. The commanding strength of Qin Shi Huang Reviews His Troops (Qinwang Dianbing), the solemn majesty of Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva (Qianshou Guanyin), and the radiant beauty of Flying Apsaras (Feitian) took turns on stage, vividly showcasing the rich diversity of Chinese classical dance. When the final note faded, the entire audience rose to their feet in applause. The dancers returned for five curtain calls, yet the ovation continued to swell like an unending tide.
Staff members at the Sibiu International Theatre Festival were deeply impressed, with one commenting, “The rhythmic beauty of Chinese classical dance has redefined my understanding of Eastern art.” Wang Jiong, the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, attended the performance and provided strong support and assistance.
Arad
Eastern Elegance in the Classical Theatre
On June 30, the Ioan Slavici Classical Theatre in Arad hosted a special performance of the Chinese classical dance Beauty Beyond Words. The event was jointly hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Romania, the Arad City Hall Culture Palace, and the Romanian-Chinese House. Nearly 400 guests attended, among them Iustin Cionca, President of the Arad County Council; Călin Bibarț, Mayor of Arad; and Zhang Lili, Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Romania.
Counselor Zhang Lili read a message on behalf of Hua Yafang, Charge d'Affaires ad interim (a.i.) of the Chinese Embassy in Romania. In the message, Ms. Hua noted that Arad County has long-standing friendly ties with China’s Hainan and Fujian provinces, while Arad City maintains a friendship with Changzhou City in Jiangsu Province. She emphasized that the performance not only vividly showcased the achievements of China-Romania cultural exchanges but also served as an important bridge to strengthen mutual understanding and goodwill between the two peoples. She expressed the hope that the performance would further deepen bilateral understanding and friendship and promote mutual learning between civilizations.
In his address, Mayor Călin Bibarț stated that Arad has long maintained sound and friendly cooperation with China, and cultural exchanges have played an important role in this regard. He expressed hope that the cultural ties would continue to strengthen and take cooperation between the two sides to new heights.
With exquisite technique and immense artistic passion, the dancers presented the Romanian audience with a performance infused with the elegance and allure of the East. Their fluid movements and intricate choreography vividly conveyed the beauty of traditional Chinese culture.
The performance ended to thunderous applause from the audience. The host, Kristian-Ivan Varjasi, praised the show as “one of the most spectacular performances in recent years”. Festival organizers from neighboring cities also spoke highly of the Chinese performers, commending their superb technique and sincere emotions, and expressed the hope to bring similar performances to their own cities.
Host Kristian-Ivan Varjasi’s Post on Twitter
Festival of the Hearts
Cultural Resonance Through Diverse Encounters
On July 2, the BDA delegation took part in a series of events as part of the 34th Festival of the Hearts in Timișoara. The Timișoara House of Culture has been hosting the festival ever since 1990. Each year, dance troupes from around the world—rooted in or inspired by folk traditions—are invited to participate, allowing local audiences to experience the richness and charm of folk culture around the world.
Commemorative Trophy and Certificate Awarded to BDA at the 34th Festival of the Hearts
During the dance exchange sessions, the BDA delegation interacted with art troupes from Spain and Poland, as well as with local audiences. The graceful, flowing movements of Drunken in the Spring Breeze (Zui Chunfeng) and the powerful, dynamic gestures of Vajra (Jingang) showcased the harmonious blend of strength and softness in Chinese classical dance, eliciting waves of amazement and warm applause from the audience.
Following the performances, the dancers broke down the signature movements of the pieces and patiently taught them to local audiences and members of other dance troupes. The atmosphere was warm and engaging, as participants from diverse cultural backgrounds immersed in the unique beauty of Chinese classical dance through hands-on learning and interaction. The folk dances performed by the Spanish and Polish ensembles beautifully complemented the Chinese Classical Dance, collectively creating a striking tableau of cultural exchange and fusion.
In the afternoon, the delegation joined the “Festival of the Heart” city parade. Dressed in Chinese classical dance costumes, the performers made their way through the streets alongside art troupes from 13 other countries, showcasing their distinctive dances and becoming one of the brightest highlights in Timișoara’s cityscape.
That evening, at the festival’s highlight—the Rose Ball—Ta Ge（Sing and Dance ）dance took the stage once again, its flowing water sleeves infusing the festival with a rich sense of Chinese charm.
Throughout the festival, the BDA delegation participated with confidence, enthusiasm, openness, and inclusiveness. Not only did they demonstrate the rich heritage of Chinese classical dance, but through the vibrant clash and fusion with diverse global cultures, they forged an artistic connection that transcended national borders, offering the local audiences a unique and captivating experience of Eastern artistry.
BDA’s Stepping Song (Ta Ge) Dance Featured at the Rose Ball
Timișoara
Beauty Beyond Words Shines in the “European Capital of Culture”
On the evening of July 3, the special performance of the Chinese classical dance Beauty Beyond Words was staged at Timișoara’s Mihai Eminescu National Theatre. The event was jointly hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Romania and the Timișoara City Hall Culture Palace, with strong support from the China Cultural Center in Bucharest, the Romanian Association for the Promotion of Arts and Culture, and Moutai Group. Over 600 guests attended, including Dominic Fritz, Mayor of Timișoara; Zhang Lili, Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Romania; as well as friends, overseas Chinese, and local residents from all walks of life.
Counsellor Zhang Lili read out a speech by Hua Yafang, Charge d'Affaires ad interim (a.i.) of the Chinese Embassy in Romania. In the speech, Ms. Hua emphasized that Chinese classical dance is an essential vehicle for traditional Chinese culture. It draws on the essence of China’s 5,000-year-old culture and integrates the aesthetic philosophies of Confucianism and Daoism with elements from traditional arts like calligraphy, Peking Opera, and martial arts. She noted that the performance was not only a vivid example of China-Romania cultural exchanges but also served as an important bridge to strengthen mutual understanding and goodwill between the two peoples.
Mayor Dominic Fritz praised the performance as one of the most highly attended shows in Timișoara in recent years. He expressed hope that through the dancers’ artistry, audiences could feel the pulse of China’s historical and cultural heritage and discover shared spiritual values through the resonance of art.
The performance featured classic pieces including Stepping Song (Ta Ge), Awakening of the Tang Figurines (Tang Yin), The Butterfly Lovers (Liang Zhu), Qin Shi Huang Reviews His Troops (Qinwang Dianbing), Flying Apsaras (Feitian), Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva (Qianshou Guanyin), and Yellow River (Huang He). The finale, Yellow River, captivated the audience with its majestic power, moving many to tears as they exclaimed that they “felt the strength of the national spirit”. After the performance, Mayor Mr. Fritz warmly interacted with the performers, praising them for building a bridge across borders through the language of dance.
This trip to Romania was widely covered by media outlets both at home and abroad, including the official website of the Chinese Embassy in Romania, People’s Daily Online, Xinhuanet, and Romanian National Television. This widespread coverage captured the moment of Chinese Classical Dance flourishing in foreign land, bringing the wonderful highlights of China-Romania cultural exchanges to a wider audience.
Throughout the week-long tour, the students and faculty overcame numerous difficulties, including jet lag, physical exhaustion, and challenges with the theatre stage and lighting rehearsals. Nevertheless, every performance was executed flawlessly, showcasing the spirit and professionalism of BDA members and marking a significant contribution to China-Romania cultural exchanges.
The Chinese Embassy in Romania Sends a Thank-you Note
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that “Confidence in one’s own culture, seen as a broader, deeper and more fundamental expression of self-confidence, stands as the most vital, profound and enduring wellspring of strength for the progress of a country and its people.” The BDA’s 2025 Romania Arts Exchange Tour was a resounding success. It served as a concentrated display of exceptional Chinese artistic standards, facilitated a profound dialogue between Eastern and Western civilizations, and stood as a vivid, practical example of patriotic education in action.
With sincere passion, the BDA students performed works embodying China’s rich traditional culture. Their efforts earned an enthusiastic reception from audiences across multiple nations, but more significantly, they solidified their own cultural confidence on the international stage.
Looking ahead, the Academy is committed to furthering high-quality cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and foreign nations. Through dance, it will continue to tell China’s stories, carry on the essence of Chinese civilization, and expand the presence and influence of Chinese dance within the global “artistic community.” By serving as a model for the inheritance and development of Chinese culture, BDA seeks to contribute the unique power of Eastern aesthetics to the shared prosperity of human civilization.
Source: Beijing Dance Academy Official Website, News Edition No. 1833 (Issue No. 105, 2025)
