Classical Chinese Dance Explained by Gold Winner Marilyn Yang

The dance Marilyn Yang choreographed for this years competition shows the story of Wang Zhaojun, one of the four most beautiful women in ancient China. Wang prevented bloodshed in her country by being a peace bride, married off to a remote and barren land thats close to todays Mongolia. But instead of focusing on the teary departure scene, Yang turned to the beautys life on the barren land. For me, I incorporated some Mongolian dance moves. I wanted to show that her heart was open. She accepts her fate, and shes not bitter about it, and that its already become a part of her. Like this culture, this Mongolian culture is part of who she is now. But she sees a flower, and then the memories come flooding back to her, and it shows that she still has that Han Dynasty maiden in her bones.