If you’re curious about what contemporary dance looks like when it meets Mongolian tradition, Thirteen Paragraphs is the show to catch. Directed by Xilin Fu, this original dance collection dives into life’s thirteen different scenarios, blending Mongolian folk dance, modern choreography, and live traditional music to create a truly immersive experience.

Thirteen Paragraphs explores thirteen different stages or circumstances in life—ranging from wilderness and misty haze to boundlessness and blessings—through a combination of contemporary dance and Mongolian traditional forms. The work is directed by Xilin Fu, who integrates his nomadic upbringing and deep understanding of Mongolian culture into the choreography.

The performance features a fusion of Mongolian dance and contemporary movement, presenting both raw physicality and expansive lines. Live music, including throat singing, long songs, and the morin khuur (horse-head fiddle), constructs a soundscape that transports the audience to the vast Mongolian steppe. The piece unfolds as a poetic reflection on life, tradition, and the intersection of old and new artistic expressions.

The creative team includes co-creator musicians Delehei and Welles, visual designers Li Peng, Xilin Fu, and Li Bin, as well as a cast of performers including Zhang Xinyi, Qiu Hao, Liang Aoqi, Fan Shiqi, and others. The production is co-organized by the School of Dance, Inner Mongolia Arts University, Lin ART Dance Creation Society, and Shanghai International Dance Center Theater.