A concert in Chengdu, China on Thursday showed the line between technology and live entertainment, as Chinese-American singer-songwriter Wang Lihong took to the stage with six humanoid robots. According to local media, the robot, dressed in a silver sequin costume, appeared during the singer's performance of “Open Fire” and danced with her.
A video shared online shows the robot performing a series of coordinated movements to music, including arm movements, leg kicks, rotations, and jumps. Their movements appeared to be closely synchronized with rhythm, rather than being limited to simple repetitive gestures.
The routine ended with all six robots completing a Webster flip simultaneously. This attracted the attention of a visible audience and led to further discussion online about the increasing use of robots in live performances.
Unitree robot attracts world attention after stage performance in Chengdu
Behind the on-stage performance was Unitree Robotics, a Hangzhou-based company that supplied the six humanoid robots featured on the show. The arrival quickly attracted attention beyond China, including billionaire Elon Musk, who reshared a post to X saying that in China, robots can do everything and even dance on stage like a pro. Musk added a brief comment of his own, calling the performance impressive.
The routine also sparked widespread discussion across Chinese social media platforms. Many users commented on the robot's movement and coordination, with some praising how sophisticated and visually impressive its performance was, while others pointed to it as another sign of the fast pace of development in China's robotics field.
Online reactions highlighted how quickly expectations for humanoid robots are changing. In a related video on Sina Weibo, one commenter pointed out that the robot was only seen twirling handkerchiefs at this year's Spring Festival celebrations, but in less than a year, it was already performing flips on stage.
Another user said the live show was so engaging that he didn't realize the performers were robots at first, highlighting how closely the machines resembled human dancers in a concert setting.
New dance feature aimed at everyday use of robots
The reaction to the performance was also reflected in the comments Wang Lihong himself shared after the concert. In a statement posted on the singer's official website, she referred to her performance in Chengdu as part of her ongoing Best Places tour, and mentioned her experience performing alongside robot dancers on stage.
The statement said the robot's appearance was a rare sight in a live concert setting, adding that the performance combined robotic technology and live music, making this collaboration a notable moment of the tour.
The concert appearance is just one example of how Unitree plans to showcase its humanoid robots. The Hangzhou-based company is researching how its G1 robot can perform dance routines in everyday home environments.
In February of this year, Unitree demonstrated a new feature called “Keep the Music Going, Keep the Dance Flowing” that allows robots to keep their movements in time with the music, but the functionality varies depending on the model and version of the robot.
