[Photo Provided to China Daily]

The same year, Wang did a stage adaptation of the 16th-century Chinese novel, Jin Ping Mei (The Golden Lotus), one of China's most erotic works.

Premiered in Hong Kong in March 2011 and commissioned by the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the work stirred strong responses when it toured the mainland. While Wang said that the work was more about women's fight to find their voice in the massive social transformation of the country, some of her critics described the piece as just something that showed sex and corruption.

Wang and her troupe didn't do public performances for a year after that.

In 2013, she returned with the Wild Grass series, inspired by three of the most evocative essays of Chinese writer Lu Xun (1881-1936): Dead Fire, The Shadow's Leave-Taking and Dance of Extremity.

"I am proud of my dancers, who, like me, devote themselves to what they like to do," she says, adding that they practice dance from 10 am to 5 pm daily.

The troupe tours every year, mostly abroad. Poisonous Apple has been booked for shows in Europe in 2017.

But for Wang, she still wants to help develop the domestic market even though contemporary dance is still in its infancy in the country.

"There are many young Chinese who are interested in our performances. They are the hope of Chinese troupes," says Wang.

If you go

7:30 pm, Dec 10-11. Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, 9 Tianqiao Nandajie (South street), Xicheng district, Beijing. 400-635-3355