Keepers of time

The dance show The Twelve Souls of Time is inspired by the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. [Photo provided to China Daily]

In the Chinese zodiac, the years are given different symbols represented by the 12 animals. People born in each year are said to share some characteristics with the representative animal.

Gao has her 12 dancers imitating the moves of the animals through modern dance.

"Modern dance is different because you cannot categorize its moves. There are no limits. It's an art form that respects individuality. Both the dancers and the audience are required to be involved," she says.

"Audiences should abandon predictions about what they are going to see in a performance. The ability to imagine and interact with the dancers is very important," she adds.

Before The Twelve Souls of Time, Gao released her choreography work in 2013, Blooming of Time, which was inspired by the rotation of the 24 solar terms on the traditional Chinese calendar.