Wu Yutong, an 18-year-old student of contemporary dance at the Beijing Dance Academy, performed a piece titled Your Name, which explored topics like memory and love.

"I learned to dance as a child but I didn't feel the joy of dancing until I watched contemporary dance shows in senior middle school. It's free and full of imagination, which totally allows me to express myself," says Wu. "When I prepared for Your Name, my teachers spoke to me like we were co-workers. My opinions were important to them and so when the piece was finally finished, I was very proud because I was not just a dancer, but also a participant in creating the dance."

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn