In the 80s of the last century, there were two peerless dancers in the Chinese dance world: Yang Liping, the elf of the south, and Zhou Jie, the elf of the north.
Yang Liping amazed the times with her "Peacock Princess", while Zhou Jie showed a style that Yang Liping did not have with her unique smart charm.
They were known as the "Golden Flowers of the North and the South", and they were in the limelight in that era.
But what really made Zhou Jie's fame reach its peak was her wonderful performance in the movie "Yang Guifei".
In order to better shape this role, she did not hesitate to gain 20 pounds, showing incomparable professionalism.
After the release of this movie, the audience was conquered by her role as Yang Guifei, and Zhou Jie became famous.
After that, she participated in works such as "Dunhuang Night Tales" and "Burning the Old Summer Palace", and gradually established her position in the entertainment industry.
Zhou Jie was supposed to continue to write brilliant at the peak of her glorious career, but a sudden diagnosis of a serious illness unexpectedly pushed her into the haze of life......
So what's going on here?
In Shanghai in 1961, Zhou Jie was born.
Since she was a child, she has had a strong interest in dance, and often dances lightly in the living room of her home, revealing childlike innocence and love in her dance steps.
When she was seven years old, Zhou Jie writhed lightly at a campus art show, her eyes shining.
At that moment, she knew that her whole life would be closely linked to dance.
She once said in an interview: "Dance, for me, is already a part of life. ”
Zhou Jie's talent is on a par with Yang Liping, and she entered the dance class of the Shanghai Opera House at the age of ten, specializing in dance.
There, she was known as the "Desperate Saburo", and she was always the most diligent one in the practice room.
At the age of fifteen, Zhou Jie relied on her talent and hard work to play the leading role in many dance dramas such as "Banping Mountain", and her name began to spread in the dance circle.
But she never slacks off because of her fame, and always gives her all in her Xi practice and performance.
"Zhou Jie, your performance today is very good, but your actions seem to be a little reluctant. The dance teacher asked with concern.
"It's okay, teacher, I'm just a little tired. Zhou Jie smiled reluctantly, hiding the pain in her chest.
During the rehearsal of "Banping Mountain", Zhou Jie felt a little uncomfortable, but in order not to affect the rehearsal progress, she chose to persevere.
During the official performance, her dancing posture amazed the audience, but after the performance, she collapsed on the stage with a broken rib.
After a doctor's examination, it was found that her ribs had been broken for a long time.
Even so, Zhou Jie still insisted on completing more than a dozen tours this time.
After the performance, Zhou Jie stood in front of the window of the hospital, and the world outside the window seemed to call her back to the stage.
The doctor's words echoed in her ears, each word striking her heart like a heavy hammer.
They say that if she dances again, she may lose everything, even her life.
But in Zhou Jie's heart, dancing is not only life, it is the breath of her soul.
She recalls countless hard nights, those moments when sweat and tears were intertwined.
Her dreams, her dances, were forged with a lifetime of passion and pain. She can't, and won't give up,
A month later, she was on stage again.
The applause of the audience poured in like a tidal wave, but her heart trembled.
Every movement, every turn, is like a game with fate.
However, there was a fearless fire burning in her eyes, and her dance steps were more fiery and passionate than ever.
Subsequently, Zhou Jie began to develop in film and television.
She starred in the movie "Yang Guifei", which took her fame to the next level.
The audience applauded her talent and courage, but only she knew that behind every glorious moment, there was endless pain and persistence.
Behind the bustling stage, Zhou Jie's love life is like a low-key melody.
Her love, like her dance, was once intense and short-lived.
At the age of 24, Zhou Jie fell in love with a man, and the two hearts quickly approached, as if two rays of light collided in the night sky.
Their wedding was simple and warm, but like a dream dance, fleeting.
Soon after marriage, the two chose to part ways due to disagreements.
Zhou Jie's heart seemed to be blown by a cold wind, and since then she has completely devoted herself to her career.
In 1995, Zhou Jie performed "Spring Rhyme" choreographed by Jin Xing at the Spring Festival Gala.
Although Jin Xing once indirectly complained about Zhou Jie's appearance, Zhou Jie's performance is still deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and is as famous as Yang Liping.
However, at the peak of her career, Zhou Jie made a surprising decision - to suspend domestic performances and go to live in Houston, USA.
This decision puzzled many, but for Zhou Jie, it was a deliberate choice.
She was invited to perform abroad, and she wanted to show the charm of Chinese classical dance on the stage abroad.
The outside world knows very little about Chinese classical dance, and Zhou Jie knows that this is a rare opportunity, not only for herself, but also to spread the country's traditional culture.
She rehearses day and night, every movement, every gesture to perfection.
But at this moment, her old illness returned, and every breath was accompanied by pain.
However, Zhou Jie insisted, and her love for dance surpassed everything.
On the day of the performance, she wore a gorgeous ethnic style dress, and every turn was a tribute to Chinese culture.
Her dance won thunderous applause, which not only conquered foreign audiences, but also planted an idea in her heart: she wanted to spread Chinese dance culture to the world.
She founded a school focused on Chinese dance in the United States, where she served as its principal.
She not only teaches dance, but also teaches Chinese to foreign students herself, giving them a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.
Her efforts have brought the dance culture between China and the West closer together.
However, just when Zhou Jie's career was in full swing, she was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Faced with this sudden bad news, Zhou Jie was unusually calm. She didn't choose to despair, nor did she choose to give up.
She took out her notebook and wrote down "the last plan of life".
She took care of everything at the school and handed it over to someone she could trust.
When the school was transferred, with tears in her eyes, she instructed her successor: "Please continue to pass on this love and let Chinese dance fly." ”
In 2017, doctors told her that there were only her last days left.
Zhou Jie decided to return to her homeland, to her beloved Shanghai.
Despite her poor physical condition and despite the challenging circumstances at the time, she insisted on returning home.
She exhausted all her connections and resources, and did not hesitate to charter a plane at her own expense of $270,000, and finally embarked on a journey back home.
On the plane, Zhou Jie's body almost collapsed.
But the inner voice told her, "I will definitely hold on, I will return to my hometown." ”
On September 26, 2021, Zhou Jie finally returned to Shanghai after several journeys.
She did not choose further treatment, but quietly admired the scenery of her hometown, as if saying goodbye to the world.
On October 1, the day of the National Day, Zhou Jie left this world peacefully......
As Zhou Jie's story came to an end, we couldn't help but be deeply moved.
Zhou Jie, her life is both a history of dance and a legend.
Every step of her dance is not only an artistic display, but also an ode to the strength and beauty of life.
Although Zhou Jie's life has come to an end, her love for dance, cultural inheritance and attitude towards life will always inspire us.
She uses her life to interpret what is the true spirit of an artist: not only the glamour on the stage, but also the unremitting struggle and persistence in her dreams in life.
Zhou Jie's story tells us that no matter what challenges life throws at us, we should face them bravely and hold on to our beliefs and dreams.
Her dances transcend borders and connect different cultures, and her spirit will continue to grow in the hearts of everyone touched by her story.
Finally, let us commemorate Zhou Jie with a positive attitude, a true dancer, a brave dream seeker.
Her life was short, but her impact was profound.
She has beautified the world in her own way,
Her story will be forever etched in our hearts.