"I live a healthy life so I can dance. Dance is my lifelong career aspiration. I cannot live without it."
I am the eldest of eight siblings in my family. When I was twelve, my father asked me to quit school and become an engineering drafter to ease my family's financial burden. But I liked dance more than drafting, so I secretly joined the dance classes at the Gansu Provincial Opera Troupe without telling my family. That's where my dance career began.
The famous Chinese dancer Zhang Jingdi
People born in the 1990s might recall my portrayal of the White Crane Fairy in the 1986 TV series Journey to the West. I was 43 years old then, but the role I played was a young and graceful fairy. Thanks to the crew’s trust and encouragement, I completed it successfully and impressed the audience with my portrayal of the fairy in this iconic Chinese film and television production.
Older people might have watched the national award-winning dance drama Silk Road in 1979. The drama got a lot of attention in Gansu and people struggled to get a ticket. Then, the actress scheduled to play "Yingniang" suddenly fell very ill one day before the performance and the troupe director had to find a replacement quickly. I was called upon to step in and do it as I was recognized as a "skilled actor". Based on my many years of dance experience and my understanding of Dunhuang culture, I created an improvisation in dance.
I didn't expect it then but those two performance opportunities gave my career momentum. I still remember the big applause and how nervous and excited I was at that time. Those memories always remind me that one minute of dance glory on stage requires ten years of hard work off stage.
Don't live your old age without strength or dreams
For 67 years, dance has been an integral part of my life. At 80, my goal remains to be a skilled dancer, but now I want to add one more goal: to become an exemplary older Chinese woman, being healthy and able to make a meaningful contribution.
To be honest, it took me a long time to accept the term "older lady." In my 50s, I was called "older lady" in a field performance, but I was not happy with it. My understanding was that "older" has nothing to do with age. Only when a person is very weak or cannot live by her- or himself, can she or he be called "older person." For example, I used to find people in their 50s or 60s struggling to walk in the street who were clearly overweight. I thought that was getting old.
However, getting old is a natural process that nobody can escape, especially dancers. Many people think dancers can only be young people. But I am not afraid of getting older. It might be easier for me to perform physically at a younger age, but as I get older, I also have a better understanding of the spirit and substance of dance. This makes me more confident, especially in my Dunhuang dance.
I have been invited to perform my self-directed Dunhuang Frescoes at the annual Chinese Educators Conference hosted by Phoenix TV since the age of 78. On stage, I take every step and every gesture seriously. It's not just a work of dance, but a display of the gentle and noble essence of women. Unlike when I was younger, I now prioritise conveying my inner emotions and the cultural heritage embedded in this dance. I hear the ovations and even see some elderly members of the audience standing up to show their appreciation to me. I cannot stop thanking them.
I thank all my audiences for their support, am grateful for my continuous efforts, and thank the theatres. They all enable this 80-year-old woman to still be on the stage. No matter how old you are, as long as you have a lifelong passion, you will stand out.
The way to stay young is to be committed and disciplined
A bone age test in recent years revealed that my bones are only 45.1 years old. The doctor was so surprised that she checked my ID card again and again.
Many people say I must have inherited longevity genes from my family. But, unfortunately, it's not true. My mother died of rheumatic disease before turning 60, and my two younger sisters died of cancer in their 30s and 40s. I've also been suffering from rheumatoid disease.
Over the years, I've made healthy eating and a healthy routine a priority. I make sure I get enough sleep, regular lunch breaks, eat a controlled diet with balanced protein and lots of different vegetables and grains. As a dancer, I exercise every day but don't push my body so hard with lots of challenging movements – just do moderate practice and stretching.
For my beloved career, I have always been improving myself and taking good care of my body and appearance. I constantly remind myself not to let up, because my journey isn't over yet. I aspire to showcase the profound love of Chinese culture through my Dunhuang dance, and make more people discover graceful ageing and embrace the spirit of an elderly Chinese woman.
Yang Jiang, a renowned Chinese writer and centenarian, is my source of inspiration. She wrote with the wisdom of age, pouring her life experiences onto the page. This deeply moves me. I see myself dancing throughout my life, just as she did. Without a pursuit, life will only be like a pool of stagnant water waiting to be drained.
If there is just one tip for staying healthy, it must be: Discover your life's passion and remain steadfast in its pursuit.
