The Role of Feminist Theory in Interpreting Female Images in Chinese National Dance Drama

Abstract

This study examines the history of female representation in Chinese national dance drama, how dance education and institutional practices affect gendered performance styles, and audience perceptions of traditional and contemporary gender portrayals. According to Confucian gender norms of passive and supportive roles, traditional female characters are graceful and moral. Socialist-era female characters were more assertive, but state-driven narratives prioritized collective identity over individual autonomy. Dance drama gendered narratives are examined qualitatively using feminist theoretical frameworks, historical analysis, and performance studies. The sample includes 15 historically significant dance drama scripts, six cultural policies, 12 full-length performance recordings, 60 stage photographs, 25 scholarly articles, six feminist critiques, seven dance training manuals, and 12 semi-structured interviews with professional dancers, choreographers, and educators. Younger audiences and progressive scholars favor feminist reinterpretations that challenge tradition, while conventional audiences prefer traditional, decorative female roles. Reinterpreting traditional narratives, feminist dance education, and female choreographic agency may help Chinese national dance drama portray women more inclusively and dynamically.