Explore Chinese classical dance with Professor ZHU Yue

"I hope that students can embark on a novel exploration of China's traditional culture and natural beauty through the expressive art of dance," said Prof. ZHU Yue, the instructor of the course "Open the Door of Art — Chinese Classical Dance" at ZJU.

Recognizing that not all students who enroll in the course are professional dancers, Prof. ZHU has thoughtfully condensed the rich curriculum into four key sections, spanning 16 weeks: rhythms, movements, emotions, and costumes. She guides students in appreciating the emotions of characters and experiencing traditional costumes and dance props. Beyond theory, her classes include repertoire appreciation sessions that enhance students' understanding of the flexible use of body language. In her classes, she encourages students to express themselves authentically and organically, prioritizing personal emotions over standardized movement parameters.

Additionally, she integrates elements of Chinese paintings, poetry, and literature to help students grasp and translate emotions into choreographic movements. As freshman DENG Ruining put it, "What impressed me most is that during the learning process, Prof. ZHU would ask us to imitate figures from ancient paintings and pottery figurines and chant poems, so that we could analyze movements and get a better understanding of inner feelings of characters."

Reflecting on the experience, CAO Xinyi, another student in the course, shared, "After the class, I discovered the purest and brightest version of myself and learned to openly reveal my inner world."