Trinity Laban was proud to collaborate with Beijing Dance Academy (BDA) on a joint performance in Beijing on 25 October, showcasing an inspiring fusion of creativity, culture, and international partnership.
The production, titled Hé (和 / 河 / 合), was co-conceived by Liu Lan, Xu Rui, and Trinity Laban Principal Anthony Bowne, and presented as the finale of BDA’s international showcase, which featured twelve institutions from nine countries.
The word Hé, a Chinese homophone for River (河), Harmony (和), and Collaboration (合), captures the essence of this creative partnership. Through three interwoven themes, Rivers, Harmony, and Collaboration, the work explored the flow of civilisation, the value of diversity, and the power of co-creation.
Drawing parallels between the River Thames and the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal, the production reflected on how art, like water, connects people and cultures across time and geography. It also celebrated centuries of creative exchange between China and the UK, from 18th-century Chinoiserie and Shakespearean adaptations in China to the influence of Labanotation in Chinese dance education, embodying the principle of “harmony without uniformity.”
Three Trinity Laban alumni – Francesca Roe (Dance), Ciara Ennis (Musical Theatre), and Rosie Meek (Musical Theatre) – joined BDA students and faculty to bring Hé to life through choreography, music, and stage design. Their performance represented the Trinity Laban and Beijing Dance Academy’s joint commitment to nurturing globally minded artists and celebrating intercultural collaboration through dance and theatre.
The evening’s audience included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Education Department of the Beijing Municipal Government, and the Central Foreign Affairs Office, among others.
Following the performance, Trinity Laban and Beijing Dance Academy held a Post-Performance Cultural Exchange and Commemorative Signing Ceremony, reaffirming both institutions’ dedication to ongoing collaboration in education, research, and creative practice.
As part of the evening’s events, Anthony Bowne, Principal of Trinity Laban and Deputy Director General of the World Dance Alliance, addressed the audience. In his remarks, he reflected on the long and rich shared history between the two institutions and the enduring impact of their partnership.
This performance marks another milestone in Trinity Laban’s growing relationship with Beijing Dance Academy – China’s premier dance institution – and its wider commitment to international artistic exchange, creating new opportunities for dialogue, discovery, and shared creativity across cultures.