Cross-cultural expression of Chinese ballet: Symbol, Identity, Context and Empathy

Abstract

This paper attempts to explore the dilemmas and problems faced by Chinese ballet in cross-cultural expression since the founding of New China (after 1949). Based on cross-cultural communication adaptation theory, the research shows that: (1) The study on the cross-cultural expression of Chinese ballet has not received much attention in the East and the West; (2) The Western dance system tends to view Chinese ballet dancers as cultural productive forces, more accepting of ballet dance’s individual identities than the collective identities of Chinese ballet; (3) the reviews of Chinese ballets published in the US and Australia show fundamental misinterpretation and biases; (4) the audience surveys show a lack of familiarity with Chinese ballet, as well as the presence of cultural stereotypes shaping audience reception; (5) the cross-cultural expression of Chinese ballet is in the stage from ‘contact-shock’ to ‘recognition-adaptation’. Finding a textual story of East-West empathy from 5,000 years of Chinese history, promoting co-productions by ballet companies from both sides, and using social media, online videos and theater living broadcasts, may improve this cross-cultural expression dilemma.