Dance in tune with a wider audience

Unlike other dance competition reality shows, the 12-episode show gathers together professional dancers who are either working with national troupes and companies or working independently like Li. Some of them are award winners like Li and they "put aside their past glory to start anew" for the sake of the art to display themselves in the program.

The show covers a wide range of genres, including traditional, contemporary, street dance and ballet.

Hong is full of admiration for the dancers and their professionalism, saying: "The hard work and passion that goes into each performance is awe-inspiring. Many of these dancers shine on the international stage, and they deserve to be seen by more people back in China."

Zhang Aimadi and Jia Haoyue, who joined the show, are dancers who have achieved international acclaim. Both 22, the two were winners of the Under 21 Latin championships in Blackpool in 2018. This is one of the most prestigious dance competitions in the world, held in Blackpool, the United Kingdom. Zhang and Jia were the first Chinese dancers to win in their category.

In the show, they performed a lighthearted piece, See What to Eat, which starts with a kiss. They both started to learn dance as children and became dance partners in 2014.

"Latin dance has great diversity and rapid movements. Though it's rooted in Western culture, we want to prove that Chinese dancers can create a particularly unique style and translate the language of dance across the world," says Jia.

"Dancing allows us to express our emotions. And it should invoke emotions, just like art is supposed to do," adds Zhang.

Choreographer Shen Wei, one of the show's judges, says: "The timing is perfect for Chinese professional dancers to display themselves on TV, as the country is attaching more and more importance to the art form now."