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Tails of grace - Enchanting underwater ballet of China’s Wuhan merman captivates hearts

Tails of grace - Enchanting underwater ballet of China’s Wuhan merman captivates hearts

"Beneath the shimmering surface of the aquarium tank at a Wuhan oceanarium, a muscular young man transforms into a mythical creature. The fluid movement of 22-year-old Xiao Songyi is not merely swimming; it is an ethereal underwater ballet performed by a mesmerising ‘male mermaid’ where his athletic past and artistic present fuse into pure poetry in motion. Footage filmed on Wednesday shows the strong, muscular kicks of the professional diver's legs elegantly concealed within his sparkling merman tail. The core of his movement creates a hypnotic, serpentine grace that mimics the most elegant marine life. Xiao, a former diving athlete, discovered his passion for swimming and diving at the age of seven. At 19, he retired from professional diving due to injury and chose to return to university to continue his studies. In early 2021, he accidentally encountered mermaid performances and recognised it as a new career path. Xiao recalled his journey: “When I retired, some of my friends were working as diving instructors. Initially, I also planned to follow in their footsteps. Then, by chance, I came across mermaid performances within the diving industry. After trying it out, I found that I especially enjoyed the feeling of performing underwater.” He quickly transitioned by obtaining relevant certifications, self-learning ethnic and classical dance to design underwater movements, and commissioning several specially weighted tails heavier than the standard ones to enhance his performance effects. Xiao’s daily shows at the Xiaopinmao Oceanarium have become a major attraction, with many tourists travelling specifically to see the ‘male mermaid’, and his shows have also gone viral online. Although his parents initially opposed his career change, he gradually gained their recognition through persistence and skill. “When a performance starts, the loud cheers from the audience immediately help the performer get into the right state of mind for the show. Additionally, after performances, the performer exercises regularly to maintain physical fitness,” he said. His captivating underwater movements — including a tilted head, a warm smile, or a flowing sleeve that continues to drift — often lead the audience to believe he is a real living merman."