The cultural value and innovation of Dunhuang Dance: From the "Thirty-Six Poses" to creative practice

Shi Min, Professor at the Chinese Classical Dance Department and Director of the Dunhuang Dance Culture Research Center at the Beijing Dance Academy, said the cultural value of Dunhuang dance lies in its ability to balance faithful inheritance with creative renewal.

Professor Shi noted that the teaching of Dunhuang dance aims to guide students toward traditional culture and a deeper understanding of the enduring civilization preserved in Dunhuang murals. Central to this approach is the “Thirty-Six Poses,” a training system she developed that has become a required foundation for students and dance enthusiasts studying Dunhuang dance. Based on direct bodily imitation of mural figures, the poses enable learners to study posture, movement, and inner spirit directly from the murals themselves. Shi explained that this standardized and disciplined practice preserves what has been passed down unchanged through history, providing a stable foundation upon which further development and creative transformation can take place.