When I was growing up and watching tons of Chinese-language historical dramas, most of the time the leading ladies were always ethereally beautiful, but beyond that they always had this grace onscreen like they glided or floated with this out-of-this-world vibe. Later I realized that a lot of C-actresses had classical dance training or ballet either during theatrical schooling or from childhood, hence their gracefulness onscreen came from having ingrained dancer’s lithe physical form and movements. The same is true of the C-actresses of today with so many having dance training that has come in extra handy especially doing wuxia dramas.
China’s central network CCTV has been hard at work planning, scheduling, and rehearsing for its biggest event of the year, the CCTV New Year’s Gala 2015. Four of China’s television leading ladies have been packaged together to perform a classical Chinese dance while dressed as the Four Beauties Xi Shi, Wang Zhao Jun, Diaochan, and Yang Gui Fei. Tong Li Ya, Ma Su, Wang Li Kun, and Qin Lan are all incredibly beautiful but their dress rehearsal pictures have been released and I, along with all the C-netizens, are howling in laughter at what the lovely ladies have been reduced to in the tackiest makeup and attire EVER. Tong Li Ya (above) fares the best out of the four but holy moly does the entirety of the four together scream “Vegas Showcase Ancient Chinese Style!”
The C-netizen comments of derision are hilarious, including wondering if the costumes were purchased from Taobao (C-version of eBay) and why the ladies look more like they guys in a period costume drag queen pageant.
Poor ladies, I’m definitely going to watch the show just to check out their dance and hopefully not be distracted too much from the visual styling. All four are trained in classical Chinese dance which explains why they were chosen for this huge performance. That’s cool, imagine just grabbing four famous actresses with no dance background and making them learn a dance for the biggest performance of their lifetime. A few other Chinese leading ladies such as Crystal Liu and Liu Shi Shi are also trained ballerinas so maybe next year they can do a pas de deux.
Wow. I mean- the Empress or whatever drama you’ve just posted photos of had better costumes. Can’t they steal or borrow from that show?
I’ve seen way more beautiful costumes. And seriously, how is it even possible to make such beauties ugly? I am not snarking- who is the make up artist?
Seriously wondering what’s going on in the costume designer’s mind…
I feel like Tong Li Ya got lucky? LOL she did look the best out of the 4…
Yeah she did make out the best
I’m still sad the little fresh meat section got canceled
*cough* *cough* due to SoMeone’s interference. Such a shame really.
Thanks ockoala 🙂 I love coming to this site and getting C-Entertainment news. I am more interested lately, especially, as I am pulling back from K-entertainment and its faux scandals. Some of my favorite dramas in the past year have been C-dramas as well – Boss & Me, My Sunshine, Loving, Never Forgetting, etc.
C-actresses are talented since they are also trained to be dancers in some sort. I have been watching C- dramas these days like My Sunshine, Prince of LanLing and a few completed airing dramas. Thanks koala for posting C-ent news. Looking forward to it and yes, i visit this site everyday like i check my mail. 🙂
Not really. They don’t train to be dancers. Most C-actresses with dance backgrounds originally intended to be dancers, like Liu Shi Shi and Tong Li Ya. LSS graduated from a dance academy, while TLY is one of the rare ones who are actually strong in both dancing and acting because she majored in dance and went on to study acting after that. C-actresses who know how to dance usually come from dance schools but don’t go to any of the acting schools (which churn out most of the C-actors).
And on a side note, I’m not sure if Crystal Liu is a trained ballerina. Her mum is a famous dancer though.
They are talented. Its rare for k-actress tough.
Park Shin Hye is a fantastic modern dancer.
Really? Wow. I didn’t know that! I hope someone creates a movie/Kdrama about dance and they cast her so I can see. I only know her as a singer. (aside from her acting which I have a love-hate relationship with.)
And of course, Wang Ji Won is an almnus of the Royal School of Ballet, and was a member of the Korean National Ballet