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Text/Cha Cha
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preface
In the center of Shanghai, where there are many high-rise buildings, there is a dance school with an unremarkable but strong atmosphere. There is a statue at the entrance of the school, which is Zhou Jie with a ponytail and a tutu. Whenever a student passes by, they will look at this sculpture and express their heartfelt respect for this dance master in their hearts.
Zhou Jie, this resounding name bears witness to the glorious moment of Chinese dance art in the late 20th century. From an ordinary peasant girl to a popular film and television star, to a dancer who is revered as the "Oriental Beauty God", her legendary life shines with tenacity and perseverance, inspiring the hearts of generations of dreamers.
"Practicing dance is my life's pursuit."
Zhou Jie often said this. She was born in an ordinary farming family in Fengxian District, Shanghai, to parents who were teachers in a rural school. From the age of 5, she showed an extraordinary talent for her art, and her casual dance moves won the admiration of those around her.
The social environment at that time was not tolerant of a girl from a poor background chasing her dreams. Since the age of 10, Zhou Jie has applied for major dance schools again and again, but often fails due to family background. Just when she was in great pain, a ray of light finally flashed in 1974 - she was favored by the tutor of the Shanghai Song and Dance Theater and was admitted to school.
"It was the luckiest moment of my life." Many years later, when it comes to that turning point, Zhou Jie still can't hide her excitement, "I found the first door to the stage. "
After entering the theater, Zhou Jie devoted herself to training. She starts from the basics and accumulates bit by bit, not letting go of the tiniest details. Soon, this "stage newcomer" was proud of his strength and became the "heroine" of the theater at the age of 13.
The development of the drama road
"This girl from the countryside is destined to have an indissoluble bond with the stage." Director Li Hanxiang commented on Zhou Jie that year. In 1980, Zhou Jie was selected by him for her outstanding dancing skills and played the role of "Concubine Li" in the movie "Listening to Politics with a Curtain". The 18-year-old dance star was an instant hit, receiving critical acclaim from audiences and critics alike.
Zhou Jie attacked one after another on the stage and screen, opening up new fields for her artistic path. In 1984, she played the role of Yang Yuhuan in "Yang Guifei" and won the reputation of "the most beautiful Yang Guifei of our time".
"She seems to have been born with the charm of being charming and arrogant, and this natural dance gene seems to be a perfect match with Yang Guifei." So said the director of the year.
Zhou Jie's acting career continues to rise. She starred in many large-scale dance dramas, including "Banping Mountain", "Fengming Qishan" and "Mulan Fragrance"; She appeared in the Spring Festival Gala three times and was loved by the audience; She has also starred in more than 30 film and television dramas, and won many awards such as the Magnolia Award.
When asked about her pursuit of a dance career, Zhou Jie said: "Life needs dance, just like a fish needs water." I will practice this cause for the rest of my life and never give up. "
Life choices
Zhou Jie in her personal life is not a smooth ride. In the 1980s, she married a behind-the-scenes crew and soon broke up due to a lack of mutual understanding. This failed marriage left her devastated, and she still can't hide her grief years later.
"I often wonder, is it too obsessed with dancing? Is it neglecting to take care of the marriage? I was really young at that time, and I couldn't think through a lot of things..."However, dance is always the heaviest light in Zhou Jie's heart. For the sake of her career, she gave up childbirth, studied art diligently, and devoted herself to dance creation. "Dance is my child." That's what she used to say.
In 1993, the stage became Zhou Jie's lonely battlefield. In the Spring Festival Gala of that year, she directed and starred in the large-scale dance drama "Zhou Xuan", which amazed countless audiences with her beautiful dancing posture. When she completed the finale performance with great ambition, the applause lasted for a long time, the colorful flags flew, and the audience was moved.
That year, at the height of her art and critically acclaimed work, a sudden difficulty struck her – she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
"At that moment, my heart almost collapsed, and it felt like all the sweetness had melted away overnight." Zhou Jie later recalled, "But in the end, I made up my mind to use my life to cross the dance of art and never compromise with fate." "
With the help of her friends, Zhou Jie fought tenaciously against the disease. In 1996, she quit her stage job and went to the United States to seek medical treatment. In Houston, she opened her own dance school to spread Chinese culture to local students.
After several years of treatment, there is hope for recovery. In 2002, Zhou Jie returned to her homeland and continued to run a school in Shanghai. She regards the art garden as her second hometown, teaching thousands of students with love and passing on the dance tradition of the Chinese nation from generation to generation.
"Unconsciously, it's been on the stage for three-quarters of a century." In 2008, in an interview, Zhou Jie sighed, "The road of dance is tortuous and difficult, but I have no regrets."
This year, she was over half a hundred years old and married businessman Chen Weiliang. With her lover's protection, her life has finally found a new meaning. "I'm happy now, but I'll never give up on my dance career until the last moment of my life."
epilogue
For a dancer, the age of 65 means the end of his career. But Zhou Jie doesn't think so, and she still performs and tours around the world, showcasing the charm of Chinese dance culture to global audiences.
"The twilight of life is the most gorgeous moment for a dancer." In an interview, Zhou Jie said emotionally, "I will use my spare heat to leave a brilliant mark on this art born from this pursuit." "
But not long after this passionate declaration, the bad news struck - in 2016, Zhou Jie's cancer recurred, and her condition was critical for a while. She went to seek medical treatment again and flew to the United States for treatment. The shattered body afflicted this strong woman.
"It was the darkest day of my life." Zhou Jie later recalled, "I even lost the courage to pick up dancing shoes again. Thanks to the support and encouragement of my family and friends, I was able to overcome that life-and-death hurdle. "
Two years of treatment allowed Zhou Jie to see the hope of life again. But her greatest wish is to return to her motherland and return to her beloved Shanghai. So she managed to get to Shanghai in September 2021 with all her strength and started treatment.
Fate is merciless after all. Only 3 days after returning to China, Zhou Jie couldn't stand the torture of illness and passed away, leaving the dance world she loved. Her husband was devastated.
Life is like a play, although the play has left, the spirit lives on. In order to commemorate this "Oriental Beauty God", the Shanghai Song and Dance Theater specially sculpted a bronze bust of her at the school gate. Every student who passes by will be moved by the image of graceful dancing and attentiveness.
Zhou Jie has become a shining pearl in the history of Chinese dance. She used her life to interpret the persistent pursuit of dance career, and wrote a legend with her tenacious will. And what she left behind in the hearts of the world is not only an artistic story, but also a persistence in her dreams.
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