Retired artist turns teacher to inspire next generation of talent

China Daily

10th December 2025

Retired artist turns teacher to inspire next generation of talent

By Zhu Xingxin in Taiyuan and Chen Liang

Wei Yujie is not an ordinary teacher at the Taiyuan School for the Deaf in Shanxi province.

At 33, she was once the lead dancer of the globally acclaimed dance, “Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva”, gracing stages in more than 40 countries, giving more than 1,000 performances, and showcasing the beauty and confidence of Chinese disabled people to the world.

But now the grand stages have been replaced with the familiar, echoing corridors of her alma mater. Gone are the elaborate costumes and dazzling lights, traded for the simple, encouraging smile she wears for her students. Wei has transformed from a star into a mentor.

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