The boundary between live entertainment and advanced robotics blurred this week at a concert in Chengdu, where six humanoid robots joined Chinese American singer-songwriter Wang Leehom on stage for a fully choreographed dance performance. The robots appeared during his song Open Fire, dressed in silver sequined outfits and moving in tight synchronization with the music, quickly becoming the most talked-about part of the show.
Videos circulating online show the robots executing a complex routine that went far beyond simple mechanical motions. They performed coordinated arm swings, leg kicks, spins, jumps, and rhythm-matched steps that mirrored professional human dancers. The sequence ended with all six robots completing a Webster flip at the same moment, drawing visible reactions from the crowd and fueling widespread discussion on social media.
Behind the performance was Unitree Robotics, a Hangzhou-based firm known for its rapid advances in legged and humanoid robots. The appearance of its machines on a major concert stage quickly attracted global attention, including a reaction from Elon Musk, who reshared footage of the performance on X and described it as impressive. His comment helped push the clip far beyond Chinese platforms and into international tech circles.
On Chinese social media, reactions ranged from amazement to disbelief. Some viewers focused on how fluid and polished the robots’ movements looked, while others pointed out how quickly the technology is advancing. One popular comment noted that during this year’s Spring Festival Gala, robots were limited to spinning handkerchiefs, while less than a year later they are now flipping on a concert stage. Another user said they initially did not realize the performers were robots at all, highlighting how closely the machines mimicked human dancers under stage lighting and choreography.
Wang Leehom later commented on the collaboration through a statement published on his official website. Referring to the Chengdu stop on his Best Place Tour, he described performing alongside robotic dancers as an unusual and memorable experience. The statement noted that combining live music with humanoid robotics created a striking visual moment and marked a unique chapter in the tour.
For Unitree, the concert was more than a publicity stunt. The company has been actively demonstrating new capabilities aimed at making humanoid robots more adaptive and expressive. Earlier this year, it showcased a feature called “Keep the Music Going, Keep the Dance Flowing,” allowing its G1 robots to stay in sync with music and maintain continuous motion, with variations depending on the model.
The Chengdu performance reflects how expectations around humanoid robots are shifting. What once felt like novelty demonstrations are increasingly crossing into mainstream cultural spaces. Seeing robots not just walk or run, but perform complex dance routines in front of a live audience suggests that humanoid machines are moving closer to everyday interaction, entertainment, and home environments faster than many expected.
