ARTS / DANCE
Interview with Zhou Liya: Artists should approach creation with ‘reverence and sincerity’
Dancing with true culture
By Published: Feb 08, 2026 11:06 PM
From the dance drama The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting and Wing Chun to The Eternal Wave, as well as directing the gala commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Zhou Liya, a national first-class choreographer and renowned dance drama director from the China Oriental Performing Arts Group, together with her partner Han Zhen, has created a series of deeply resonant works. They have built an aesthetic bridge between traditional culture, the spirit of the country's revolutionary legacy and contemporary audiences.
She told the Global Times that artists should approach creation with "reverence and sincerity," steadfastly upholding the belief in "striking roots deep into traditional culture and integrating contemporary expressions to give back to the era and the people."
Cultural responsibility
"First, representing the cultural sector at the meeting, I felt surprised, apprehensive, and even pressure," Zhou candidly shared her inner feelings with the Global Times.
Prior to the meeting, Zhou and her team diligently prepared by reviewing the cultural aspects of the report and the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan. They also compiled data on the 2025 performance market and overseas cultural exchanges.
As a renowned art creator who uses body language to convey national narratives, Zhou reflected that her selection might stem from her role as a representative not only of stage art but also as someone reflecting the broader practices within the cultural field.
"Through works like The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting and Wing Chun, we reinterpret traditional culture with contemporary aesthetics and narrative approaches, achieving mutual engagement with the audience.
At the same time, by directing revolutionary-themed dance dramas such as The Eternal Wave and the gala commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, we have also taken part in large-scale creative endeavors that contributed to the national narrative," she noted.
"As artists, we unite people's hearts through our works - this is our unique value," added Zhou.
How could traditional Chinese culture or significant themes be transformed into moving dance vocabulary? Zhou's answer centers on "impulses" and "sincerity."
"There is no fixed methodology in the fleeting moment when you seek inspiration for artistic creation. The key lies in the creator's initial impulses toward the subject and sincerely immersing themselves in it, developing an emotional connection with the people, objects, and stories within."
Zhou consistently emphasizes that artists must possess reverence for traditional culture, revolutionary culture, and their own profession, as well as sincerity.
"Only sincere works have vitality, and the audience can feel it." She recalled that during the creation of The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting, which was inspired by the legendary painting Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers, a single remark from a Palace Museum expert, "You are also part of the guardians," instantly provided the team with an emotional anchor and a sense of responsibility.
In an era underscored by the innovation-driven emphasis of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Zhou used the metaphor of a tree to elaborate on her "perspective on innovation."
"For us, innovation involves seeking unprecedented expression across multiple dimensions such as dance movement, stage space, and aesthetics. Innovation is like a tree, while its branches and leaves reach upward, its roots must dig deeper downward. In the pursuit of innovation, we must draw more nutrients from our profound traditional culture."
Universal language
Zhou's works have achieved massive successes with domestic and international tours.
She said that dance, as a form of non-verbal storytelling, holds inherent advantages in cross-cultural communication.
"Dance is more international, capable of transcending language barriers."
She has observed a qualitative improvement in the global influence of Chinese dance dramas in recent years, but also reminds creators to remain clear-headed amid market enthusiasm, advocating for a "simmering over low heat" approach to dedicated creation.
Zhou pointed out that China now possesses world-class theater facilities, and what is urgently needed is high-quality artistic content to bring them to life and transform them into vibrant cultural bridges. And, she is calling for the establishment of a healthy creative ecosystem that encourages diversity and a flourishing of various styles to avoid homogeneous trends.
As the newly appointed vice chairperson of the All-China Youth Federation, Zhou has high expectations for the younger generation.
She said she wants to leverage the platform of the Youth Federation to connect and unite young artists in China, fostering more channels for exchange.
"Let there be greater interaction among young people from different fields, as well as within the community of young artists themselves, so that creative consensus can emerge through communication, enabling collective growth."
Regarding future creative plans, Zhou noted that she is reflecting.
"Our creative process is relatively slow, requiring extensive preliminary study and deep contemplation. While we have some creative ideas at the moment, we are immersed in exploring the subject matter," she said.
This aligns perfectly with her philosophy: Only by allowing creativity ample time to take root downward can the tree of art grow upward, branching out with enduring vitality and lush foliage.
Promotional material for the dance drama The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting Photos: Courtesy of the China Oriental Performing Arts Group
In this exclusive interview with the Global Times, Zhou shared her own deep experiences during a session at Chinese Premier Li Qiang's symposium in January to solicit opinions and suggestions on a draft government work report as well as a draft outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development and her reflections on art.She told the Global Times that artists should approach creation with "reverence and sincerity," steadfastly upholding the belief in "striking roots deep into traditional culture and integrating contemporary expressions to give back to the era and the people."
Cultural responsibility
"First, representing the cultural sector at the meeting, I felt surprised, apprehensive, and even pressure," Zhou candidly shared her inner feelings with the Global Times.
Prior to the meeting, Zhou and her team diligently prepared by reviewing the cultural aspects of the report and the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan. They also compiled data on the 2025 performance market and overseas cultural exchanges.
As a renowned art creator who uses body language to convey national narratives, Zhou reflected that her selection might stem from her role as a representative not only of stage art but also as someone reflecting the broader practices within the cultural field.
"Through works like The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting and Wing Chun, we reinterpret traditional culture with contemporary aesthetics and narrative approaches, achieving mutual engagement with the audience.
At the same time, by directing revolutionary-themed dance dramas such as The Eternal Wave and the gala commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, we have also taken part in large-scale creative endeavors that contributed to the national narrative," she noted.
"As artists, we unite people's hearts through our works - this is our unique value," added Zhou.
Zhou Liya
Like a tree, deep into soilHow could traditional Chinese culture or significant themes be transformed into moving dance vocabulary? Zhou's answer centers on "impulses" and "sincerity."
"There is no fixed methodology in the fleeting moment when you seek inspiration for artistic creation. The key lies in the creator's initial impulses toward the subject and sincerely immersing themselves in it, developing an emotional connection with the people, objects, and stories within."
Zhou consistently emphasizes that artists must possess reverence for traditional culture, revolutionary culture, and their own profession, as well as sincerity.
"Only sincere works have vitality, and the audience can feel it." She recalled that during the creation of The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting, which was inspired by the legendary painting Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers, a single remark from a Palace Museum expert, "You are also part of the guardians," instantly provided the team with an emotional anchor and a sense of responsibility.
In an era underscored by the innovation-driven emphasis of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Zhou used the metaphor of a tree to elaborate on her "perspective on innovation."
"For us, innovation involves seeking unprecedented expression across multiple dimensions such as dance movement, stage space, and aesthetics. Innovation is like a tree, while its branches and leaves reach upward, its roots must dig deeper downward. In the pursuit of innovation, we must draw more nutrients from our profound traditional culture."
Universal language
Zhou's works have achieved massive successes with domestic and international tours.
She said that dance, as a form of non-verbal storytelling, holds inherent advantages in cross-cultural communication.
"Dance is more international, capable of transcending language barriers."
She has observed a qualitative improvement in the global influence of Chinese dance dramas in recent years, but also reminds creators to remain clear-headed amid market enthusiasm, advocating for a "simmering over low heat" approach to dedicated creation.
Zhou pointed out that China now possesses world-class theater facilities, and what is urgently needed is high-quality artistic content to bring them to life and transform them into vibrant cultural bridges. And, she is calling for the establishment of a healthy creative ecosystem that encourages diversity and a flourishing of various styles to avoid homogeneous trends.
As the newly appointed vice chairperson of the All-China Youth Federation, Zhou has high expectations for the younger generation.
She said she wants to leverage the platform of the Youth Federation to connect and unite young artists in China, fostering more channels for exchange.
"Let there be greater interaction among young people from different fields, as well as within the community of young artists themselves, so that creative consensus can emerge through communication, enabling collective growth."
Regarding future creative plans, Zhou noted that she is reflecting.
"Our creative process is relatively slow, requiring extensive preliminary study and deep contemplation. While we have some creative ideas at the moment, we are immersed in exploring the subject matter," she said.
This aligns perfectly with her philosophy: Only by allowing creativity ample time to take root downward can the tree of art grow upward, branching out with enduring vitality and lush foliage.
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