Beijing and Shanghai, in a dance duet

Still from the dance Yuan Ming Yuan. Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn

Shi Jingxin, one of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games opening ceremony's choreographers, is now pitching two cities, Beijing and Shanghai, against each other in her latest project, Duet.

The two part dance performance by Xin-Art-Lab will stage every night at 7:30 pm from Sep 19 to 21 at the China Millennium Monument Theater.

Beijing will have the dance Yuan Ming Yuan to represent herself. With experimental music by Li Tieqiao, the 5 year-old dance will relate the city's mentality by exploring the ruins of the looted imperial garden, Yuan Ming Yuan, and the story of human desperation and rekindled spirits after anxiety.

The Shanghai segment will be encapsulated in Stay Alive, a dance drama that combines Shi and her grandmother's personal stories with the growth of the city. Monologues, documentary films and installation arts will also go into the Stay Alive experience.

"In all my work, I'm trying to look for the language of today's Chinese, and tell how they see their lives," Shi said.