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| Tencent Confirms Red Dance Shoes with Star-Studded Creative Team and 2026 Premiere |
Tencent Video has finally pulled the curtain back on its latest heavyweight production – Red Dance Shoes (红舞鞋) – a sprawling, emotional drama set against the backdrop of China’s late 1970s to early 1980s.
The series stars Zhou Ye, one of the most in-demand post-95 actresses, alongside Wang Ziqi, with Zheng Xiaolong onboard as producer and art director.
Known for mega-hits like Empresses in the Palace (Zhen Huan Zhuan) and The Legend of Mi Yue, Zheng’s involvement alone has raised audience expectations sky-high. Directing is Liu Xuesong, recognised for The Story of Xing Fu, with screenwriter Geng Xuhong crafting the script.
Story and Setting
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At its heart, Red Dance Shoes is a love story wrapped inside an era of change. The drama follows Lin Xuefan, a gifted dancer born into privilege and nurtured by her mother.
Her sheltered life is shattered when her family faces upheaval, pushing her from a refined upbringing into the discipline of the military and the trials of the cultural troupe.
There, she begins to understand that dance is more than elite artistry – it’s an expression rooted in the people and their lives.
Alongside her is Ma Xiaodong, a compound youth who later joins the army. Their relationship blossoms from shared dreams, hardships, and encouragement, reflecting the struggles and resilience of their generation.
The series doesn’t just focus on Lin Xuefan’s journey. It also paints a wider canvas of her peers – from friendships and marriages to sacrifices and career shifts – capturing how one generation rode the waves of Reform and Opening to find their place in a transforming society.
Production Team and Vision
With Zheng Xiaolong leading artistic direction, Cao Ping as chief producer, and Liu Xuesong guiding the story’s rhythm and emotional depth, the drama boasts what fans are calling a “king-level line-up.”
The script promises a balance of delicate emotional beats and grand historical context, with dance serving as both motif and metaphor.
Even the first concept poster is drawing attention: a pair of red ballet shoes standing like a rose upon water, with the reflection turning into green military boots.
The image encapsulates Lin Xuefan’s dual journey through art and duty – an ode to youth, sacrifice, and perseverance.
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Release and Expectations
The drama will run for 35 episodes, with filming scheduled to begin in late Q3 or early Q4 this year.
Tencent and Chunyu Film & Television are jointly producing, targeting a 2026 premiere.
Zhou Ye’s casting is already fuelling discussion online. Known for her impactful performances in Legend of the Female General, Better Days (Shaonian De Ni) and A Little Shop at the Edge of the Clouds, her ability to bring emotional nuance to Lin Xuefan’s growth is being eagerly anticipated.
With top-tier creatives, a nostalgic yet inspirational premise, and a lead actress whose career is only on the rise, Red Dance Shoes is shaping up to be one of Tencent’s most promising prestige dramas of the coming years.