Performer captures essence of sleeve dance

Dressed in a red dance skirt and wielding blue water sleeves, Yin Tao's performance was a mesmerizing blend of colors and movements, set to lively music that captivated the audience.

What makes him more special is that the 36-year-old from Changsha, Hunan province, has embraced his passion for dance and the art of cross-dressing to interpret the allure of performance art for 17 years. As the Spring Festival holiday drew to a close on Feb 4, the vibrant atmosphere at the Fire God Palace scenic area in Changsha was palpable. Amid a plethora of captivating performances, Yin's act stood out. Wielding 20-meter-long water sleeves, he moved with the grace of a swan and the agility of a dragon, eliciting thunderous applause from the audience.

Yin sang two songs in a female voice and gave a dance performance. The whole show lasted for almost 20 minutes and the atmosphere was electric. "There were hundreds of people in the audience and the louder they cheered for me, the more excited I became and more determined to give them my best performance," he said.

After he sang the first song, he told the audience that he was a cross-dressing performer singing in his original voice, which brought amazement to the spectators.

As a full-time cross-dressing performer, Yin plays 100 to 200 times every year. After Yin graduated from Ningxiang Normal School in 2007, majoring in dance, he started working for a local dance troupe.

In 2008, at the age of 19, he embarked on his journey of learning water sleeve dance, driven by a deep love for the art form.

"After I saw people perform the dance, I immediately fell in love with it, instantly captivated by its grace and beauty," he said.

This new art form demanded not only exceptional dance skills but also a nuanced understanding of gender characteristics, which presented a fresh challenge for him. He started to learn it by himself and practiced several hours every day.

Meanwhile, his path as a cross-dressing performer was not easy. "I guess the biggest obstacle was to overcome my own psychological hurdles. Occasionally, people didn't understand my choice, but I need to find the courage first by myself," he said.

He said he is also lucky to have family support.

The first time he gave a performance, Yin did not tell his parents, who were in the audience. After the show, he removed the costume and left the make-up on. When he moved toward his parents, however, his mother noticed he was the performer. To his surprise, his parents told him that he did a wonderful job, which gave him much confidence, he said.

He noted that despite performing hundreds of shows a year, his parents always make a point to attend whenever they can, offering their unwavering support.

His wife, a colleague at the dance troupe, is also very supportive.

Yin said his biggest idol is Mei Lanfang, who has significantly advanced the art of cross-dressing in Chinese opera by perfecting the portrayal of female roles, enriching the performance with his exceptional skills and emotional depth, and bringing international recognition to this traditional art form.

Therefore, he chose to learn from Mei to prove his worth through performances. He delved into traditional Chinese opera, studying the subtleties of female roles, including their expressions, movements and emotional portrayals. Adorned in elaborate costumes, he manipulates his water sleeves with a fluidity that ranges from gentle waves to dramatic surges, which blends the elegance of traditional Chinese opera with the dynamism of modern dance.

Each movement of his sleeves is a testament to his passion, and every spin reflects his artistic aspirations.

"The recognition and affection from the audience and my family are my greatest joys and the driving force behind my continuous progress," he said. Yin hopes that through his performances, more people will come to understand and appreciate the art of cross-dressing and the charm of traditional Chinese culture.

"Cross-dressing performance is a beautiful form of art, which allows the beauty of traditional arts to flourish in the modern world," he said.

zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn