Yang Liping, legendary ‘Princess of Peacock’

Central figure of the famous "Peacock" performance, Yang Liping, the 54 year old dancer has announced she will turn to behind-the-scene work after "The Peacock".

Our reporter Luo Chen sat down with Yang Liping earlier to find out more about her fascination with the bird, and her thoughts on leaving the stage.

Dubbed "Princess of Peacock", Yang Liping danced into stardom in 1986. She developed a traditional dance and personified the peacock, the animal that has been worshipped in her homeland in Yunnan Province.

Yang says, "The peacock is like a god for ethnic people in Yuanan. Peacock Dance is very popular there. And the best dancers are said to be blessed. It's true since the dance ushered in my life-long good fortune."

Born to the Bai ethnic community, dancing abilities seem to run in Yang's blood. The primitive scenery and idyllic life in her village became an endless source of inspiration.

In 2004, she heralded a stage extravaganza, called "Dynamic Yunnan". It was a splendid tapestry of dying ethnic art in the region, with nearly all the performers being local farmers. The show is among the best received stage performances in China.

While known as a guardian of traditional art, this time around Yang is testing her creativity as a modern artist.

Assembling top artists and the best technology, "The Peacock" is intended to be forged as an oriental answer to the timeless classic "Swan Lake".

Yang says, "The dance play 'The Peacock' is nothing about ethnic art any more. It was created to reflect the aesthetics and philosophy of the East."

Along with top dancers, a team of high-profile artists, including the Oscar winning costume designer Tim Yip are also part of the creation.

The theme of "The Peacock" is the unalterable circle of time and life, from birth to death.

At fifty four, Yang said she's like a peacock entering her winter period, yet finding life is at its fullest.

After a lively career spanning four decades, Yang Liping says she's not sad about retiring from the stage, reminding us that every entertainer has to face the curtain some day. But, nothing will stop her from dancing, and her stage will now be anywhere she graces.

Yang says, "The stage in the theatre is too small a space. In my ethnic community, dancing is all through people's lives. They would dance to celebrate, to mourn, to love and to remember. Leaving the stage doesn't mean my dance is over."

"I don't dance for a living, I just live to dance," said Yang Liping.