The artistic beauty of Dunhuang Dance: "Three curves" and the S-Shaped rhythm

Dunhuang dance, inspired by the murals of the Mogao Caves, embodies the artistic legacy of Chinese civilization across centuries. Its distinctive aesthetic is shaped by a dialogue between stillness and motion: the “three curves,” which define the body’s sculptural posture, and the flowing S-shaped rhythm that animates the form in movement.

Shi Min, Professor at the Chinese Classical Dance Department and Director of the Dunhuang Dance Culture Research Center at the Beijing Dance Academy, said this dual aesthetic reflects an ancient understanding of bodily beauty. She emphasized that transforming mural imagery into dance creation should follow the historical development of Dunhuang culture, ensuring continuity between past and present.