When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 232: Chapter 96: Top Star of the 60s Cultural Troupe (35)

Xia Zhaoyun nodded, set her things down with a smile, then clapped her hands to gather everyone. ”I finished mapping out the movements and the music yesterday. The moves aren’t difficult, but they can’t be too simple, either. That would make us look unprofessional.”

”But you all have different strengths, and when you combine them, the result will be more stunning than any star performer. Isn’t there a saying that two heads are better than one? With so many of you, how could you not dazzle a crowd of amateurs?”

”This is a special performance for the workers, so as long as the audience can feel the spirit we’re trying to convey through our dance, it will be a success.”

”First, follow me for some stretching and a warm-up. Then I’ll go over the moves with each of you one by one.”

Everyone nodded with solemn expressions, earnestly following Xia Zhaoyun.

The routine Xia Zhaoyun led them through was an optimal set of stretches developed over decades of trial and error in a later era. It was designed to stretch every part of the body, release muscle stiffness, and allow them to get into the zone quickly.

A thin layer of sweat formed on everyone’s foreheads. Maybe it was their change in mindset, but they felt an unprecedented sense of ease in their bodies. They felt as if they were sunflowers stretching fully toward the sun, or like freshly wound-up dolls, full of energy!

Although she was reviewing the choreography with each person individually, Xia Zhaoyun still had everyone gather around her.

Dancers might seem to mechanically follow a choreographer’s design, but they need inspiration too. Different people bring a different feel to the same dance, and the amount of spirit conveyed varies!

Their perception of the piece as a whole would help them understand their own part of the dance.

Xia Zhaoyun glanced around at the group, her gaze landing on the dancer playing the chef. ”Wang Huiwen, what dance moves do you think best fit the role of a chef?”

”The movements can be exaggerated, but you must remember that you are a woman and a dancer. You have to express the grace of a worker as much as possible.”

Called out by name, Wang Huiwen stiffened. Her companions were already giggling as they pushed her into the center of the rehearsal room, ready to watch the show.

Wang Huiwen gave a helpless smile. After taking a deep breath, her eyes shifted, and she began to incorporate the motions of a chef—chopping vegetables, flipping a wok, and serving food—into her dance. To everyone’s surprise, her spirit was so vivid that she perfectly captured the essence of a modern-day master chef, managing to be exaggerated, graceful, and festive all at once.

Everyone’s eyes lit up as they applauded enthusiastically. It was as if their rigid mindsets had been shattered; countless ideas came flooding in. ’So this is another way to do dance!’

A few of the more energetic girls couldn’t help themselves and stepped forward to mimic the moves, adding their own creative twists. For a moment, the rehearsal room was filled with lively joy, completely lacking the tension that the first two groups had felt while preparing for their performances.

A smile never left Xia Zhaoyun’s face. She would occasionally look down to write and sketch in her notebook, further refining the movements for the chef’s role.

Dance may look difficult, but it’s all just basic movements in different combinations with added techniques. More importantly, it originates from life, serving as a refinement and beautification of it.

What Xia Zhaoyun was having them do now was letting them experience this process of choreography for themselves.

After the group’s ”brainstorming session” on the chef’s dance was over, Xia Zhaoyun took out the final draft and moved on to break down the moves for the next dancer.

Seeing their own suggestions adopted and incorporated into the dance, the young women were greatly encouraged. They radiated even more positivity and passion, throwing themselves into the choreography like little fireballs.

Even Xia Zhaoyun was amazed by their wildly creative yet surprisingly excellent dance moves, and she frequently made changes to her original design.

Normally at noon, no one in the troupe was more eager to rush to the cafeteria than these girls.

But now, they were so engrossed that they vied to be the first to express their understanding of the professions they were portraying. It was an unprecedented passion for dance, a humble love that had been buried deep in their hearts, denied by everyone, including themselves.

It wasn’t until Xia Zhaoyun called for a stop that the group reluctantly grabbed their lunch boxes and left the rehearsal room.

In the past, they would have hurried to the cafeteria, wandered back and forth several times to pick what they wanted to eat, and then giggled as they saved seats and lined up for their food.

During their meal, they would chat and laugh, dawdling for over half an hour. Afterward, they would scald their utensils with hot water to clean them before meandering slowly back to their dorm.

Now, however, the young women all moved as if powered by tiny motors, afraid of wasting a single second and breaking their flow of inspiration.