Zhou Ye announced as female lead of Red Dance Shoes – Liu Xue Song to direct ballet-themed C-drama

Chinese romance drama Red Dance Shoes has been announced as in production along with Zhou Ye named as the female lead.

The 27-year-old actress is already known for her superb debut as Gu Xiang in the 2021 Boys’ Love drama Word of Honor, and for main roles in C-dramas like Youth in the Flames of War, Back from the Brink, Scent of Time, Love Me Love My Voice, and Everyone Loves Me.

In fact, since she debuted in 2021 in her first Chinese drama, Zhou Ye has only ever played main roles.

Not surprising then she has snagged the female lead in Red Dance Shoes as well.

Red Dance Shoes production details

Along with Zhou Ye being named female lead in Red Dance Shoes, the C-drama’s concept poster was also released earlier today along with details about its main staff and production company.

This was announced in a message from Tencent Video via social media platform Weibo saying:

#RedDancingShoesAnnouncement# #RedDancingShoesFirstConceptPoster#

Facing the rising sun, every step blooms like a flower.
With dance as ink and grace as brush, youth’s poetry is written on the canvas of our times.

Art Director: Zheng Xiao Long (@郑晓龙导演)
Executive Producer: Cao Ping
Director: Liu Xue Song (Our Times) (@导演刘雪松)
Original Screenplay: Lü Hong
Screenwriter: Geng Xu Hong
Starring: Zhou Ye (@周也yeah)
Produced by: Chun Yu Films (@春羽影视 ) and Tencent Video (@腾讯视频)

As for the plot of the 40-episode dance and military-themed Red Dance Shoes, Baidu Encyclopedia explains it like this:

In the 1970s, the Red Star Art Troupe comes to Huadu to recruit new members.

Sixteen-year-old dance prodigy Lin Xue Fan played by Zhou Ye) fails to be selected due to family circumstances, while her close friends Yue Lian and Su Yang are admitted. Heartbroken, Xue Fan buries her red dance shoes and vows never to dance again out of resentment.

Xue Fan is then sent to the countryside in Yunnan, where she develops youthful feelings for her classmate Ma Xiao Dong. Encouraged by him, Xue Fan reignites her passion for dance.

Later, she is specially recruited into the Red Star Art Troupe, becoming one of its top dancers and earning numerous awards and commendations.

In other words, yes, it does sound likely that Red Dance Shoes comes with a heavy dose of CCP propaganda but, if that doesn’t bother you, it looks like a serious and interesting look at 1970s China.

We will update you as more information releases but, as of now, rumor in China has the Chinese drama starting filming in the next few weeks, and earmarked for a 2026 premiere.