Family fun when human puppets run riot on stage

Photo provided to China Daily

In American Cinema, five dancers will act as puppets watching a film. They enjoy the show so much that they begin to act it out.

"You will be able to tell what the content of the film is from their imitations," Jin says. "Nadine has trained the dancers so well that she can hardly tell them and the mannequins apart, even when she is standing within arm's reach in front of them.

"It takes long and disciplined training to achieve such precision and perfection."

The dancer-choreographer says that usually people think modern dance is for the artistic few, because for most audiences, modern dance shows tend to be abstract and hard to understand.

"This is an exception. It will be fun, perfect for the whole family to enjoy."

Jin founded the Shanghai Dance Festival in 2006. With no corporate or official sponsorship, it tries to invite the latest international modern dance projects every year.

In addition to American Cinema, the Shanghai Dance Festival this year will feature two performances of Focus on Korea on Sept 18-19. Seven groups from South Korea will present a gala of modern dance.

"China's young people have been fascinated with the pop culture of South Korea. I want to show them something different," Jin says.

If you go

American Cinema

7:30 pm, Tuesday. Shangahi Grand Theater, 300 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu district, Shanghai.

400-106-8686.