Choreographer Gao Chengming had a lot of time to reflect upon his career when he had to retire from Guangdong Modern Dance Company last year.

He had served as the company's assistant director for seven years from 1993 and then the artistic director for four years from August 2000.

Though he was 55 years old, he knew that age was not forcing him to leave the company. He had appeared to reach a career impasse.

However, the work born out of his meditation period was "Waiting and Looking Forward To," for which he won the first prize for best choreographed work and best choreographer at the Fifth Japan International Ballet and Modern Dance Competition in Nagoya in July and the Golden Award in the category of modern dance at the Lotus Awards -National Dance Competition late last month.

Wang Di, who performed the solo modern dance, to Chopin's piano impromptu was choreographed by Gao and also won top awards at the two events.

The modern dance performance incorporated expression conveyed solely through upper body movements.

"It was initially questioned whether the performance could be classed as dance, because usually a dance routine involves footwork," said Feng Shuangbai, chairman of the jury at the Lotus Awards as well as director of the Chinese Dancers' Association.

"But the jury members agreed that it was the best performance not only in the modern dance category but also in the entire competition. It was a bold creation, producing such expression entirely through upper body movements.

"Even without any footwork, he interpreted pretty well, why and what he was waiting and looking forward to," Feng said.

But why and what was choreographer Gao waiting and looking forward to, especially after his forced retirement?

He was frustrated after losing a friendly team and a platform from which he could create. He returned home to southwest China's Yunnan Province for a rest and a period of meditation.

"I had no clear idea of what I would do there," he recalled.

It was the Beginning of Autumn, one of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese calendar.

Around a similar time some 11 years earlier, he left Beijing Dance Academy where he had taught for several years as dean of the Chinese Dance Department to join Guangdong Modern Dance Company.

This was the first major change of his career, since he wanted to pursue his love for modern dance, despite the fact that he trained for years in Chinese classical dance and folk dance.

He also made tremendous sacrifices back then when he was forced to divorce his wife since she refused to leave Beijing to join him in Guangzhou.

"Time was flying by and another year passed. Questions were flashing through my mind such as what have I achieved, what have I lost, and shall I continue to create?" Feng said.

He remained idle for four months following his retirement from Guangdong Modern Dance Company last year. "I found that traveling and staying at home could not block me from wanting to carry on choreographing," he said. "Dance has become part of my life."

"My low mood combined with my devotion to dance created a dance in my mind," he added.

This lead to Gao's creation of "One More Year," a 65-minute show featuring six solos and two pas de deux performed by two male dancers.

The eight parts are structured according to eight of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese calendar from Beginning of Spring, Waking of Insects, Pure Brightness, Grain Rain, Grain Full, Beginning of Autumn, and White Dew to Great Snow.

Each part could exist as an independent dance but together they are threaded by a theme: people's changing mindsets throughout the seasons.

Dancing to the Chinese solar calendar is a way of expressing Gao's unique approach to modern dance, which he defines as a "breakthrough of movements based on the unique Chinese culture."

"Modern dance is a cutting-edge form of movements. Chinese modern dance should contain its own individual features to differentiate it from dance in other countries," said the choreographer.

Worldwide acclaim at the competition in Nagoya has proved his talent once more, following the numerous awards he garnered with Guangdong Modern Dance Company in the last decade.

"Waiting and Looking Forward To" is a dance sequence in "Grain Rain." It represents a period around April 20 when the spring rains come to water the grain. The dancer appears to be tilling the soil, in anticipation of the rain.

"In my opinion, the spot that the dancer stands on symbolizes an ideal, or something that a person sticks to all his life. Sometimes, he has to struggle, but will never give up."

"Like me, dance is what I am devoted to and what I will continue to devote myself to," said Gao. "Now I have to leave the dance company for a local dance research institute, but I will not stop creating and I am waiting and looking forward to new opportunities."

Meanwhile, Gao has learnt that his retirement from Guangdong Modern Dance Company last year succeeded in opening more doors for him.

Dancers Wang Di and Zhang Zhi have great faith in his talent and premiered "One More Year" in Guangzhou in March. The solo won awards both at home and abroad and the entire show has been invited to perform in Japan and France next year.

In January, he will come to Beijing where five modern dance devotees like himself have formed a small ensemble and have invited Gao to be their artistic director.

(China Daily December 20, 2005)