Zhou Jie's bumpy journey in pursuit of her dance dream
In 1961, Zhou Jie was born in Shanghai, a city that has suffered a lot of storms. She was born with a passion for dance and began to learn the art Xi her teacher at the age of 9.
However, due to her family's modest background, it was very difficult to obtain formal dance training. She was turned away from school by school, and the response was a shake of her head, a sigh, or a dismissive.
In those days, countless children lost the opportunity to pursue their dreams because of their origins. But Zhou Jie is different, she has a stubborn and persistent heart, and is determined to prove herself through her own efforts.
When she was 14 years old, Zhou Jie came to the Shanghai Song and Dance Theater and danced at the door of the theater every day, sweating to her heart's content, and expressing her obsession with dance. Her talent for self-study and love for art gradually touched the teachers who passed by.
Under their recommendation, the theater finally gave Zhou Jie a chance to perform officially.
At the age of 15, Zhou Jie got the opportunity to play the leading role in a stage play. However, during the final rehearsal, one of her actions accidentally caused a broken rib.
The severe pain almost knocked her down, but thinking that this was the opportunity she had been waiting for for many years, Zhou Jie gritted her teeth and buried the pain deep in her heart. The next day, despite the pain in her chest, she made her debut perfectly, receiving thunderous applause.
Only she knows that behind this wonderful performance is her deep dedication to her dream of dance.
After experiencing these setbacks and ups and downs, Zhou Jie finally emerged in her 20s and began to embark on her own dance path. The road was bumpy and hard, but the gains and happiness brought to her far outweighed the pain.
A successful marriage is a dilemma
At the age of 24, Zhou Jie met her future husband Li Hao. The two fell in love very much, and soon entered the palace of marriage. The newlywed Yan'er's days should have been sweet and happy, but the pressure from her parents-in-law put Zhou Jie in a dilemma.
Her in-laws have reached the age of looking forward to holding their grandchildren, and strongly ask Zhou Jie to give birth as soon as possible. However, as a highly ambitious woman, Zhou Jie worries that pregnancy and childbirth will seriously affect her dance career.
She tried to explain her concerns to her in-laws, but they didn't listen to her and insisted that she fulfill her duties as a wife.
"You are married, and having children is your unshirkable responsibility!" The in-laws said so, and her husband Li Hao also acquiesced to their ideas. Zhou Jie is in a dilemma, she can't accept that her dreams and freedom are shackled, and she doesn't want to hurt her husband and family.
After careful consideration, Zhou Jie chose to divorce Li Hao. For her, dancing is like her own child, the meaning of her whole life. When she leaves the stage, she feels like she has lost her direction in life.
For the sake of a bigger dream in her heart, she chose to give up this marriage that could have been a happy one.
This is a difficult choice in Zhou Jie's life. The failure of her marriage also made her lose confidence in her relationship, and she never chose to get married again. In her heart, dance will always be her most important love, and it is her whole life.
Beauty and strength are rare
Zhou Jie was born with two major conditions to become a star - outstanding appearance and excellent strength. Her beauty is naturally beautiful, and her classical beauty is unforgettable at first sight.
Matching her appearance is her outstanding dancing attainments. This was very rare in the film and television industry at that time, making her the darling of many directors competing for invitations.
In 1980, Zhou Jie played the role of Concubine Li in the TV series "Listening to Politics with a Curtain". This was her first transformation challenge. Born on the stage, many people are skeptical about whether she can adapt to the screen.
But when the well-dressed Zhou Jie appeared in front of the camera, everyone was fascinated. She was born for the stage, and she uses dance to interpret the charm of this role.
In 1992, Zhou Jie starred as the female number one in the movie "Yang Guifei". This is the pinnacle of her beauty. Her smart eyes reveal affection, and her graceful figure makes people unable to take their eyes off it.
At that moment, Zhou Jie was the incarnation of Yang Guifei, and this peerless stunner was vividly interpreted on the screen. She was recognized as the most beautiful Yang Guifei, and the reputation of "Oriental Beauty God" has since spread all over the world.
In 1997, Zhou Jie founded the School of Dance in the United States, bringing classical Chinese dance to the international stage. She put all her heart and soul into it, and finally let the world understand the beauty of Chinese art.
Her name has been included in the Who's Who of the World, and her achievements will remain in the annals of history.
Zhou Jie used her beauty and talent to open a new life of classical dance in contemporary times. She is a true artist who uses dance to interpret what beauty is.
Incurable disease interrupts the peak of the career
Just when Zhou Jie's career was at its peak and her reputation was soaring, a terrible news threw her from the clouds to the bottom. After a medical check-up in 2016, she was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.
This news was like a bolt from the blue, and she was instantly desperate.
She knew she didn't have much time left, but she still didn't want to believe that her life was over. Zhou Jie chose to rise up and fight against death, but the treatment that lasted for 5 years could not stop the erosion of the disease.
Her once beautiful and moving face has been hollowed out and deformed by illness. Frail, she understands that life has come to an end.
In 2021, doctors gave her an ultimatum – if there is still a wish, now is the time to complete it. After closing her eyes and contemplating, Zhou Jie must go home, to the homeland of China, where she was born and raised.
So, she chartered a private jet for $270,000 and returned to Shanghai from the United States with friends and a medical team.
During the flight, the plane also suffered a mechanical failure and was forced to stay in Guam for two days. Sick and weak, she relied on a stubborn perseverance and finally arrived in Shanghai. For this wish, she did not hesitate to exhaust all her savings, even risking her life.
This is her last wish in life, and it is also her deepest attachment to her homeland.
Finally, the leaves fall back to their roots
After a long flight and mechanical problems, Zhou Jie finally returned to Shanghai, the city she knew and cherished best. However, years of illness had brought her to the brink of collapse, and she knew she was no longer able to do it.
The moment she saw her homeland, a long-lost smile bloomed on Zhou Jie's face. She lay quietly on the hospital bed, listening to the bustling voices outside the window, smelling her favorite xiaolongbao, and gently holding her friend's hand.
On October 1, 2021, under the gaze of relatives and friends, Zhou Jie finally closed her eyes, and she died without regrets. She has devoted her life to the art of dance, and regards her career as her own child.
She has no regrets, as her life has been integrated into dance and has achieved unparalleled achievements.
When the autumn wind blew off the leaves and returned to the earth, she also returned with the wind and returned to her hometown in her memory. Death is only the end of a journey for her, and her soul will live forever in the dance and art she left behind.
Only 60 years of life, but she lit up the long night with dance. When the last time passes, she is satisfied, because all the past is here, all the memories are here, and all the hardships have turned into beautiful fruits.
This is Zhou Jie's last story, and it is also the most moving movement that she ended with the life of an artist.
Comment on her contributions to Chinese culture
Zhou Jie has made great contributions to Chinese culture and art with her extraordinary life.
In the 90s, she brought classical Chinese dance to the American stage, opening the door for Westerners to Chinese dance. She overcame all kinds of obstacles to make the audience realize the charm of Chinese dance.
The dance academy she founded is still promoting Chinese culture in the United States today.
In the film and television industry, Zhou Jie successfully showed the classical beauty of the Orient to the screen. Her superb acting skills allow the audience to see what a living classical Chinese beauty looks like.
She is not only beautiful and moving, but what is even more fascinating is the aura in her eyes and the grace in her dancing.
In order to promote Chinese dance to the world stage, Zhou Jie can be said to sacrifice her health. Even at the end of her life, she did not give up her pursuit of art, and only wanted her career to ride the wind and waves.
It is this spirit of devoting oneself to national culture and being willing to die for art that has touched the Chinese people.
Zhou Jie used her short life to light up the light of Chinese culture. She defines her life with dance, integrates life into art, and interprets the beauty of China with her soul. This unremitting artistic spirit will inspire more new generations to continue to inherit and carry forward Chinese art.