“We finally presented our performance to audiences nationwide! All those weeks of practice really paid off!” On the evening of January 28, Liu Huan, a sophomore majoring in Dance Performance in SCMU, jubilantly shared her excitement with family members after completing her performance at the Wuhan venue of the CCTV Spring Festival Gala.
This year, 165 students from the School of Music and Dance participated in the 2025 China Media Group Spring Festival Gala (hereafter referred to as “Spring Festival Gala”) at its Wuhan venue. Through their graceful choreography and vibrant enthusiasm, they showcased the unique charm of Wuhan, the “City of Heroes”, to viewers across China and around the world, while extending their most sincere New Year wishes.
A giant phoenix dance unfolds before Yellow Crane Tower.
Photo provided by Party Committee Publicity Department
Largest Performance Group Since First Spring Festival Gala Appearance
The School of Music and Dance began preparations for their Gala performance on December 24, 2024. This marks the sixth time the school has graced the Spring Festival Gala stage. Their previous five performances earned high praise from the Gala’s directorial team for the students’ outstanding professional capabilities and artistic excellence.
“This is our largest participating group since we began performing at the Spring Festival Gala, with both undergraduate and graduate students totaling 165 members!” explained Hua Maocuo, Vice Dean of the School of Music and Dance. Among the 165 performing students, 120 are female and 45 are male, with several students having performed at the Gala two or three times before.
“Standing on this prestigious stage of the Spring Festival Gala for the first time fills me with such honor and pride!” Liu Huan could barely contain her excitement. On Lunar New Year’s Eve, Liu’s family gathered early around their television, eagerly awaiting the broadcast of the performance. For Qiu Yao, performing at the Gala for the second time brought a sense of confidence. “With my previous Gala experience, I’m now much more familiar with the procedures and team coordination. This allows me to work more efficiently and collaborate more seamlessly with other performers and staff,” he said.
Unlike their previous five performances, which involved rehearsals and performances in Beijing, this time the students conducted all their preparations and performed in Wuhan. Liu Yang, a two-time Gala veteran, shared her perspective, “although this is my third time performing at the Gala, being part of the Wuhan venue and serving as the female team leader presents an entirely new challenge.” As the coordinator for the women’s team, Liu Yang not only had to complete her own rehearsals but also managed and organized 120 female performers.
Students rehearsing in front of Yellow Crane Tower.
Photo provided by Party Committee Publicity Department
Additionally, the University provided venue support for the Gala rehearsals. “We made our gymnasium available to the Gala production team, hosting rehearsals for female performers from various organizations, including the Wuhan Opera and Dance Theatre,” said Hua.
Showcasing Wuhan at Yellow Crane Tower
This year marks Wuhan’s debut as a branch venue since the Spring Festival Gala first established branch venues in 1996. The Wuhan venue’s program, “Stars Illuminate the River City”, themed “Heroic City, Behold Its Present Glory”, combined arts and technology in a cinematic IP format to showcase the resilient spirit of Wuhan people and the city’s vibrant rebirth and forward momentum. “My hometown Wuhan has experienced many extraordinary moments. Performing at the Spring Festival Gala offers a perfect opportunity to showcase Wuhan’s new vitality to audiences nationwide and worldwide,” said Wang Sipan, a performer and local resident, with evident pride.
As the Gala’s cameras focused on the Wuhan venue, a spectacular series of performances unfolded across the city: modern opera came alive on Hankou Road; an impressive array of Chu-style music resonated at the Yangtze River Crossing Museum; art and technology merged beautifully under the starlit sky at Optics Valley Square; and at Yellow Crane Tower, thunderous drums accompanied the “Phoenix” group dance. The dance students performed at Yellow Crane Tower, one of the venue’s filming locations.
A thousand-drum ensemble resounds at Yellow Crane Tower. (Photo: Hubei Daily)
“Dong Dong Dong......”, over 200 performers, including 45 male students from the School of Music and Dance, played flat drums, standing drums, and tiger-stand drums in front of the tower. The powerful drumbeats led 241 dancers, including 120 from our School of Music and Dance. Dressed in magnificent costumes, the dancers moved gracefully before Yellow Crane Tower, transforming into phoenixes that soared high and swooped low, depicting the phoenix’s mythical rebirth.
In our performance, we embody both the swift movement and the auspicious symbolism of the phoenix,” shared Chen Fangyi, reflecting on her role. She believes the program not only showcases the phoenix’s physical beauty but also, through its thoughtful choreography and stage design, profoundly interprets the phoenix’s spirit of resilient rebirth. “Each rehearsal deepened my appreciation for Wuhan’s charm and vitality. Through our performance, we hope to share Wuhan’s beauty with more people, conveying both the cultural heritage and contemporary spirit of this heroic city to the audience,” said Gou Renwu, one of the performers.
Countless Hours of Sweat and Dedication Behind the Scenes
“My greatest takeaway is the sense of unity and shared mission we developed. In just over a month, we forged an extraordinary bond,” said Shi Yinke, reflecting on her Gala performance experience. “Our training primarily focused on repetition to build muscle memory and enhance the quality of our dance”, Li Jianzen explained candidly.
Performers rehearsing at the University gymnasium.
Photo provided by Party Committee Publicity Department
While performing at Yellow Crane Tower, Wuhan’s landmark monument, effectively showcased local characteristics, the outdoor venue presented numerous challenges. During winter, the performers faced harsh conditions by the Yangtze River－strong winds, cold temperatures, and unpredictable weather became a regular part of their practice routine. “During training, many students caught colds and fevers, but they would return to practice as soon as they showed any improvement, without a single complaint. The university promptly provided all students with warm coats, shoes, gloves, vests, and other essential items to ensure proper logistical support,” said Meng Xiangyu, a faculty member from the School of Music and Dance who led the team.
Students rehearsing in front of Yellow Crane Tower.
Photo provided by Party Committee Publicity Department
To accommodate lighting effects for rehearsals, the integrated practices at Yellow Crane Tower were mostly scheduled from 11 PM to 6 AM. “During breaks in rehearsal, everyone huddled together against the fierce wind to stay warm. When it was time to perform, we would immediately remove our coats, perform in thin costumes, and give our absolute best on stage.” Shi Yinke always feels a sense of accomplishment recalling these experiences.
When movements weren’t synchronized? More practice! When energy was low? Rest and return! When drumsticks caused blisters and abrasions? Apply bandages and continue practicing... Throughout multiple joint rehearsals between the Wuhan venue and Beijing main venue, despite numerous challenges, students and faculty worked together to overcome each obstacle. Everyone endured overnight rehearsals without complaint, maintaining unity, discipline, and perseverance to deliver a perfect performance.
“Those few minutes on stage looked spectacular, but behind them lay countless hours of sweat and effort,”Chen Fangyi reflected with relief after the performance. Hua Maocuo noted that in the journey of artistic education, every opportunity marks a crucial milestone for growth, and this Gala performance significantly enhanced the students’ practical abilities.
Leaping, running, spinning... the performers, like phoenixes spreading their wings, displayed both agility and grace, using their fluid movements to present the phoenix totem of Chu culture to audiences nationwide.
