From Gracefulness to Power: The Transformation of Female Images in Contemporary Chinese Dance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71222/pbb4zj52Keywords:
Chinese dance, female imagery, gracefulness, power, aesthetic transformation, feminism, cultural identityAbstract
This paper explores the transformation of female imagery in contemporary Chinese dance, tracing the evolution from traditional ideals of "gracefulness" to modern expressions of "power." Drawing on cultural, historical, and aesthetic perspectives, the study reveals how changing social ideologies, feminist discourse, and globalization have collectively reshaped the representation of femininity on stage. In traditional contexts, the female body was associated with softness, harmony, and moral restraint-an embodiment of Confucian values and patriarchal aesthetics. However, as women's social roles expanded and cultural awareness deepened, the female dancer began to emerge as an active creator and interpreter of meaning rather than a passive object of beauty. Through choreographic innovation, symbolic reconstruction, and emotional authenticity, contemporary Chinese dance has developed a new aesthetic paradigm that celebrates female strength, autonomy, and creativity. This transformation not only marks an artistic evolution but also mirrors the broader process of gender awakening and cultural modernization in Chinese society.
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