On May 3 and 4, the national tour of Beijing Dance Academy (BDA)’s original ballroom dance drama, April Day on Earth, premiered in Hangzhou, the birthplace of Lin Huiyin. As the curtain rose gently, a graceful overture rippled like the spring waters of West Lake, drawing an audience of over a thousand into the eternal April envisioned in Lin Huiyin’s verse: “So gently mingling with the spring.” As her poetic lines took form in elegant choreography, the audience was immersed in an artistic dialogue that transcended time and space.
As part of the 2025 China National Arts Fund Project for Communication, Exchange and Promotion, BDA’s original ballroom dance drama April Day on Earth centers on the life of Lin Huiyin, a renowned Chinese architect—widely recognized as the country’s first female architect—as well as a writer and professor at Tsinghua University. Through graceful choreography, the performance tells the legendary story of her lifelong dedication to the study of Chinese architecture and the preservation of the nation’s ancient architectural heritage.
The drama uses ballroom dance vocabulary to bring to life historical figures from modern Chinese history, seamlessly integrating traditional Chinese culture with modern international art forms. It not only highlights the charm of cross-cultural exchange but also embodies the exceptional openness and inclusiveness of Eastern culture, showcasing a strong sense of cultural confidence.
A Fusion of Eastern and Western Dance Styles, An Art Connecting Past and Present
The dance drama April Day on Earth is an innovative work that interprets the essence of Chinese culture through international dance forms. It serves as both a heartfelt tribute to China’s rich cultural traditions and a major exploration by BDA in the field of cross-cultural dance creation. The production is grounded in ballroom dance, preserving the ten classic styles of English ballroom dance, while seamlessly integrating the passion of Argentine tango, the intensity of flamenco, the rhythm of boogie-woogie, and the elegance of American Smooth. Furthermore, it cleverly incorporates the rhythm and movement of Chinese dance, showcasing BDA’s deep expertise in the innovation of dance vocabulary.
As a model of the localization of foreign art, this production not only broadens the expressive scope of ballroom dance but also enriches the international dance language with Chinese narrative aesthetics through cross-cultural dialogue and reconstruction. With its pioneering artistic vision and solid creative practice, BDA once again showcases the enduring vitality of Chinese culture, defined by inclusiveness and continuous innovation.
A Tribute to Youth, Dancing from the Heart
This national tour brings together outstanding students at the Department of Ballroom Dance of BDA enrolled in 2021 and 2022, along with a team of young faculty members. Not only are they leading performers in competitions, but also dedicated practitioners of stage art. Though both the students and teachers have previously gained extensive experience performing April Day on Earth, this nationwide tour holds special significance - it is not only an artistic journey across the country, but also a profound test of their professionalism and creative commitment before audiences across the country.
Before the tour, the Academy’s leadership and faculty held a special meeting to rally the performers, encouraging them to give their all on every stage. Unlike the familiar competition floor, the theater stage demands deeper emotional engagement and more rigorous artistic expression. The performers were called on to bring their fullest passion and strongest professionalism, showcasing BDA’s artistic pursuit and sense of cultural responsibility. They hope that each performance on this tour will serve as a sincere and powerful tribute to the art of dance.
A Journey Across Time and Space: Dialogue with Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng
Before the Hangzhou performance, a special event was organized to spark a dialogue across time and space. The actors portraying Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng in April Day on Earth revisited the historic site - Xinxin Hotel, a place rich with memories from the Republic of China era.
In 1934, Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng were invited by the Construction Department of Zhejiang Province to Hangzhou to work on the restoration of the Liuhe Pagoda. Back then, the century-old hotel by West Lake bore witness to the intellectual synergy and artistic passion of this scholarly couple. Nearly a century later, as dancers in period costumes return to the same place, history and the present come alive together in a powerful moment. This special design not only pays tribute to the characters in the play but also offers performers an immersive spatial experience that allows them to deeply connect with the essence of their roles. Within the century-old corridor of the Xinxin Hotel, the dancers reinterpret this cultural legend through a contemporary lens, enriching the upcoming dance drama with a more profound sense of historical resonance. This creative collaboration both honors Hangzhou’s profound cultural heritage and breathes new artistic life into its traditional architecture.
A Beautiful Dance Drama, A Joint Interpretation of Youth
On May 1, the meet-and-greet event with the April Day on Earth production team kicked off amid a vibrant and enthusiastic atmosphere. The venue was packed to capacity. With eager anticipation, the audience engaged in a meaningful and in-depth artistic dialogue with the production team. The highlight of the meet-and-greet was the performance of the classic “Wedding Duet Dance” from the play. Through expressive choreography, the piece beautifully captured the deep and enduring love between Liang and Lin, while also conveying their unwavering passion and commitment to the field of architecture. Each dance step showcases not only the deep love between this scholarly couple but also their steadfast commitment to pursuing their ideals.
The event concluded with a lively quickstep dance lesson. Under the professional guidance of the lead performers, the audience eagerly joined in, experiencing the captivating charm of ballroom dance firsthand. This interactive segment not only bridged the gap between dancers and audience but also brought art into everyone’s daily life, receiving enthusiastic applause and heartfelt praise. The meet-and-greet highlighted the creative ingenuity behind the dance drama while fostering a warm atmosphere of shared artistic appreciation, perfectly setting the stage for the upcoming performance.
As the curtain gently fell on the Hangzhou premiere of BDA’s original dance drama April Day on Earth, the theater burst into prolonged applause. Many audience members remained deeply moved by the artistic portrayal of Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng’s legendary lives, lingering long after the final bow. After the performance, many audience members shared that the production offered them a fresh and deeper insight into Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng. The emotionally charged duets not only captured their profound and supportive love but also conveyed their unwavering dedication to preserving cultural heritage.
As a shining example of BDA’s teaching practice, the production fully embraces the approach of “combining learning and performance and enhancing learning through performance.” It provides students with authentic artistic experiences that continually deepen their artistic awareness and hone their performance skills, fostering more well-rounded growth in their artistic development. By creating and staging original productions like this, BDA’s Department of Ballroom Dance not only showcases the results of its teaching but also nurtures students’ ability to interpret traditional culture through a contemporary lens. This tour serves not just as an artistic showcase but also as a vivid demonstration of the Academy’s high-quality talent development. Moving forward, BDA will continue to deepen educational reforms and uphold its mission of fostering both moral integrity and artistic excellence, cultivating more outstanding dance talents for the development of dance art in the new era.
The premiere of the original ballroom dance drama April Day on Earth
concluded successfully in Hangzhou.
In this most beautiful April,
we bring to life through dance
the “blooming flowers over the trees” penned by Lin Huiyin.
Next, the April Day on Earth tour will be held in
Nanning, Chengdu, Kunming, Fuzhou, Nanchang, and Xiamen.
Join us on this journey across time and space,
where the rhythm of ballroom dance brings to life
the extraordinary grace of the “talented lady in China.”
