At a recent concert in Chengdu, Sichuan province, Chinese-American singer-songwriter Wang Leehom stunned audiences with an unexpected dance partner — six humanoid robots. The high-tech spectacle, staged during his performance of Open Fire, quickly captured global attention, even earning praise from tech mogul Elon Musk.
Dressed in shimmering silver sequins, the robots moved in precise synchronization with Wang, executing complex choreography that included arm waves, leg kicks, spins, jumps, and — to close the act — a perfectly timed group Webster flip. Far from appearing rigid or robotic, their motions flowed naturally with the music’s rhythm, blurring the line between machine and performer.
According to Hangzhou Daily, the robots were developed by Unitree Robotics, a company based in Hangzhou. Video clips of the performance went viral online, showcasing not just technical skill but an artistic flair that impressed viewers worldwide.
Musk took notice, retweeting a post on X that described the scene as “robots in China… dancing on stage like pros,” and added simply, “Impressive.” Back in China, social media erupted with excitement. On Sina Weibo, one user marveled at the rapid progress: “Earlier this year, robots at the Spring Festival Gala could only spin handkerchiefs; now they’re doing flips!” Another admitted, “I didn’t even realize they were robots at first — the live show was electric.” Many praised the Webster flips as sleek and stylish, calling the entire performance a jaw-dropping fusion of technology and artistry.
