Chongqing - The COVID-19 is a global challenge with severe impacts on industry, a reality we are all facing since no country or business sector can stand immune to the difficulties. In respect to this, the Chongqing Ballet Troupe has developed a series of dance videos as a way to combat COVID -19 over the past two months.

Many people have drawn strength and inspiration from their ballet videos in this difficult time. The dancers perform ballet as an expression of both practical and moral support to their audience.

“We produced some videos. One is about environment protection, using drawings of mine and the participation of young ballet learners.” Said Peng Yu, describing a video she produced on the environment protection topic. She continued, “We do things to the best of our ability and while it may not be much, we try to deliver our messages through these videos.”

In one of the videos, Chang Zhixu’s solo dance caught our attention easily. The dance moves involved relate to the epidemic in the form of encouragement and prayer, expressing wishes for the battle against COVID-19 to end soon. “I hope people both home and abroad who watch my dance can receive the message of love,” Chang said.

Since it’s founded in 2013, the Chongqing Ballet Troupe has toured France, Spain, and the U.S., shouldering the mission of culturally bridging China and overseas. “At the end of each performance, the audience would show their appreciation through rapturous applause and cheering.” Zhang Xin said, who has participated in most of the troupe’s international tour. “I feel that there isn’t much difference between people abroad and ourselves. The mother earth sustains us all. We are a big family. We are all friendly with each other.” Zhang added. She also produced dance videos to encourage people and passed the information on self-protection from COVID -19.  “It is important to know how to protect ourselves from COVID19. It truly is!”  she said.

He Mengmeng developed a series of indoor ballet workouts to help people stay healthy when they performed home quarantine.  “We, as ballet dancers, wanted to help people through ballet.” She said.

Liu Jun, the Director of Chongqing Ballet Troupe, led the ballet dancers to deliver over 40 dance videos during the epidemic.  At the question of how they come with the idea of combating COVID-19 through ballet, her answer is quite touching, “Ballet looks beautiful and graceful. The process of combating COVID-19 needs to combine both inner and outer strength as in Shaolin Kungfu and Wudang (Taichi). I think the inner power to fight the epidemic stems from the unity of mankind. With scientific knowledge, we can stand up together to fight and we can succeed.”