Choreographer sees dance as way to capture essence of erotic tale

Renowned dance choreographer Wang Yuanyuan considers her stage adaptation of the 16th-century Chinese novel The Golden Lotus to be her most frustrating and exhausting - yet satisfying - work. That's saying a lot, since she's choreographed everything from the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony to the New York City Ballet.

But perhaps it's not so surprising, as the erotic novel is highly controversial on the mainland and has been banned on and off for centuries. 'To be honest, I don't know if this show can open in China,' said Wang (pictured), who's here to do promotional work for the show, which premieres at the Hong Kong Arts Festival.

Tisa Ho, executive director of the arts festival, agreed: 'Hong Kong is perhaps one of the only places in Asia that can host this show.'

The novel, considered by scholars a masterpiece of Chinese literature, centres on a corrupt merchant and his sexual adventures with his wives, maids and mistresses. The stage show, while not explicit, will feature sex scenes and some nudity. For Wang, a former award-winning ballerina, dance is the best way to capture the essence of the tale.

'I feel dance can recreate, and represent, sexual energy more accurately than any other art form,' she said.