Kathmandu— Professional performing arts troupes across China are increasingly turning to livestreaming and social media to reach audiences far beyond the physical confines of traditional theaters. By adapting classical dances and operas for digital screens, these troupes are generating significant revenue and creating new ways for younger generations to engage with cultural traditions through platforms like Douyin.

A New Digital Stage

For dancers like He Mu of the Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre, the digital medium has provided a vital lifeline. After a serious knee injury in 2025 threatened to end her two-decade career, the troupe's livestreaming program allowed her to find her way back beneath the lights. Moving from the distant gaze of a theater audience to the intimate, real-time interaction of a camera lens, He found that viewers were incredibly enthusiastic, encouraging her to move beyond rigid choreography into more spontaneous artistry.

This shift is part of a broader trend where the intimacy of the screen allows for details that might be lost in a large theater. During a livestream of the acclaimed 'Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting,' a dancer's subtle facial movement captured the attention of tens of thousands of viewers on their phone screens. Meng Qingyang, a lead performer in the production, described livestreaming as a convenient aesthetic experience that allows people to enjoy high art while relaxing at home, bypassing the complexities of commuting and scheduling.

Adapting Art for the Vertical Frame

The transition to digital has not been without challenges. Early attempts by groups like the Shaanxi Song and Dance Theater showed that simply pointing a camera at a stage was insufficient to maintain engagement. Performers found that sweeping formations designed for a wide stage often lost their impact on a handheld screen, requiring a complete rethink of music, choreography, and lighting to suit a vertical visual language.

This adaptation requires a new level of performance skill. Dancers must contend with the intense exposure of a magnified camera that captures every flicker of emotion. Wang Lan, a dancer with the Shaanxi troupe, admitted to feeling immense nerves during her early broadcasts, but practice and audience encouragement helped her find her footing. This evolution is also creating new professional roles, such as livestream directors and specialized composers, within the performing arts industry.

Economic and Cultural Impact

The economic scale of this digital shift is substantial. According to the China Association of Performing Arts, livestreams featuring multiple performers generated more than 15 billion yuan, approximately 2.1 billion U.S. dollars, in revenue in 2025. By June, 57 professional troupes had launched regular programs on Douyin, resulting in over 16,000 broadcasts and roughly 320 million views.

Beyond the numbers, the medium is reshaping how younger Chinese citizens connect with their heritage. Li Mingchong, a research fellow at the Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences, noted that as the country has grown in global influence, younger generations are increasingly returning to the cultural forms that shape their collective memory. This digital accessibility can also drive physical ticket sales; for example, an ensemble in Jiangsu Province saw its online popularity help sell out theater performances following a successful livestreaming launch.

As the medium matures, professional troupes continue to refine the balance between traditional grandeur and digital intimacy, expanding the boundaries of the performing arts.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.