China’s music and dance culture has a long history that embodies the nation’s unique spirit through the combination of auditory and visual elements, demonstrating its intrinsic value. As modern media develops, the art of traditional dance is no longer confined to a physical stage and can be transformed in various innovative ways. NetEase Games is committed to promoting culture, striving to integrate online games and traditional Chinese classical dance. Its games, such as New Ghost, Justice Online, Absolute Interpretation, A Dream of Jianghu, Fantasy Westward Journey, Westward Journey, and more have found ways to incorporate traditional dance elements. Through digital technology, they breathe new life into classical dance, conveying positive values.

 

I. Restoring the Grace of Water Sleeves

       Motion capture typically refers to the technique of capturing a real person’s movements and transcribing them into digital models in 3D games or animations with sensors and software. Actors wear special tight suits, and each movement is transmitted in real-time to a computer, converted into corresponding keyframe data, and then applied to virtual characters. NetEase Games has utilized motion capture technology to achieve a digital and virtual representation of classical dance in games with Chinese cultural elements, breathing new life into traditional arts.

　　In 2022, the game New Ghost collaborated with the Xi'an Beilin Museum to create an online dance poetry drama called "The Poem of Beilin" using next-generation technology. Players boarded small boats and entered the virtual stage amidst an ink wash landscape, where they watched a dance performance directed by renowned dance choreographer Wang Taorui and produced by Liu Ji, a nationally-recognized scriptwriter. The dancers' movements were replicated and projected into the virtual world, where every swing of the water sleeves created ripples on the water's surface, creating interactions and movement. The splendid effects and classical dance moves fused dance and gameplay, displaying the aesthetics and meanings of traditional Chinese culture.

New Ghost x the Xi'an Beilin Museum: “The Poem of Beilin”

       When it comes to authentic classical Chinese dance, one cannot ignore traditional Chinese opera.  Huangmei opera is not only known for its expressive singing but also its bright colors and rhythmic dances, which embody a strong sense of vitality.

　　In 2021, the game Justice Online invited Mr. Jiang Jianguo, the director of the Huangmei Opera Theater of Anhui Province, and Ms. Wu Yaling to recreate the well-known classic Huangmei operas "Fairy Couple" and "Female Imperial Consort" in the game using Hollywood-level motion capture technology and high-quality audio production techniques. They faithfully reproduced the original essence of these operas in the game, immersing players in the elegant artistry of authentic Huangmei opera.

Justice Online:  Huangmei Opera

 

II. Re-editing Traditional Dances for an Immersive Experience

       The presence of traditional Chinese culture in multimedia formats has caused Chinese dance to gain popularity among younger generations with its fresh look. NetEase Games is committed to integrating the classical and modern, the traditional and the cutting-edge. By incorporating elements of modern dance and opera techniques into traditional dance scenes, NetEase Games has offered a brand-new sensory experience.

　　For example, the NetEase modern urban game Absolute Deduction invited Tang Shiyi, a national-level actor from the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater to perform "The Old Story of Luoyang", combining the performance with modern musical drama.  The script of this performance was inspired by the story of Princess Anle of the Tang Dynasty. Throughout the game, players could personally experience the joys and sorrows of various characters from history. While filming, Tang Shiyi, who played Princess Anle, portrayed the ups and downs of her life through dance. In front of a huge birdcage, the princess dances in a snowy palace, as if she were a bird trapped in a cage. After such prosperity, only desolation remains, and she is unable to escape her fate. Using contemporary visual media and values, Absolute Deduction was able to immerse players in classical art through the interplay of light and shadow.

Absolute Deduction: “The Old Story of Luoyang”

　　NetEase Games also brings together ancient cultural symbols and modern dance to resonate with players and revive people's love for the ancient.  For example, in the NetEase game A Dream of Jianghu, set in the Ming Dynasty, NetEase invited the young national first-class dancer Meng Qingyang to choreograph an umbrella dance.  In traditional Chinese culture, the umbrella embodies implicit beauty, and when given as a gift, it expresses fearlessness in the face of storms and enduring friendship.  Meng Qingyang's umbrella dance tells the story of two young men and women in ancient times who meet in the rain.  When they briefly brush into each other, they feel their hearts stir. And when they pass each other in a hurry, only the faint palpitations of their hearts remain under the umbrella.  The innovative fusion of paper umbrellas and dance expresses elegance yet turbulence in Chinese culture, allowing this ancient and enduring emotion to find unique expression.

A Dream of Jianghu:  The Umbrella Dance

 

III. Reliving History With Music and Dance

      Dance is more than an art form. Diverse dances also represent the prosperity of an era. NetEase Games, through meticulous research and innovation, has worked to depict civilizations within China over the past 5,000 years with dance performances rich in historical context.

　　NetEase's classic game Fantasy Westward Journey remains committed to protecting and promoting Dunhuang’s cultural heritage. The character "Princess of Dance" is inspired by the flying apsaras figures in Dunhuang murals, embodying their grace with ribbons swirling around their bodies.  In 2021, Fantasy Westward Journey 3D collaborated with the Dunhuang College of Northwest Normal University to create the Dunhuang dance "Dream of Dunhuang". The students and faculty of the Department of Dance at Dunhuang College performed amidst swirling mist, immersing audiences in the mysterious deserts of Dunhuang. With this graceful dance, it was as though players traversed time and space to experience the magnificent splendor of the Tang Dynasty, appreciating 5,000 years of prosperity.

Fantasy Westward Journey 3D: "Dream of Dunhuang"

　　In August 2022, the game Westward Journey collaborated with Henan TV to launch the first game-themed gala "Wonderful Journey of Youth", which presented the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty through innovative audio-visual performances. "Wonderful Journey of Youth" explored the cultural elements of China and integrated various traditional culture such as poetry, music, fashion, and dance, replicating the magnificent scenery of the Tang Dynasty. Among them, the program "Poem of Lute" used the pipa—one of the representative musical instruments of the Tang Dynasty—as a core symbol to reinterpret Tang Dynasty civilization. Players could appreciate the enduring charm of ancient Chinese society in the graceful dance moves and learn more about traditional culture.

"Wonderful Journey of Youth": "Poem of Lute"

　　Dance,  as one of the oldest art forms, showcases unique aesthetic tastes and cultural prosperity from all over the world. NetEase Games has delved into the treasure trove of Chinese culture, exploring new ways to express traditional cultural elements for the younger generation. With the exquisite preservation of classical dance through technology, young players can experience the charm of Chinese civilization in games, thereby developing a genuine love and connection with traditional culture.