Six humanoid robots reportedly joined Wang Leehom’s backup dancers during his Chengdu concert on December 19, 2025. Identified in event coverage as Unitree G1 robots, they performed synchronized arm movements, kicks, and reported Webster-style flips during “Open Fire.” The spectacle was real, but it was a rehearsed human-and-machine production—not proof that robots were independently improvising or replacing dancers.
The Chengdu performance was a real, tightly choreographed human-and-robot stage number—not six autonomous machines improvising as pop stars. On December 19, 2025, six humanoid robots reported as Unitree G1 machines joined Wang Leehom and a human dance crew during “Open Fire,” part of his Best Place Tour. Event reports described synchronized arm movements, leg kicks, stage cues, and highly visible Webster-style flips. The robots wore silver, sequin-like costumes that matched the concert’s futuristic visual design.
That combination is what made the appearance notable. The robots were not merely walking across a trade-show floor or performing a short laboratory demo. They had to move in formation, hit musical and production cues, remain balanced, and look convincing from the audience’s distance while sharing a live stage with people.
What happened in Chengdu
Wang Leehom’s official concert announcement confirms the Chengdu leg of the tour ran from December 19 through December 21, 2025, at the Chengdu Dong’an Lake Sports Park Multifunctional Gymnasium. It does not independently confirm the robots, the song, or the choreography. Those details come from event reporting, including coverage that identified six Unitree humanoids performing alongside Leehom during “Open Fire.” CGTN also reported that six humanoid robots appeared with the singer in a synchronized performance, while ARC Advisory Group identified the machines as Unitree G1 robots and highlighted their acrobatic movement.
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The reported staging placed the robots in the visual role normally associated with backup dancers. They were supporting performers, not the sole act: human dancers remained part of the number, and Leehom stayed at its center. The machines’ silver costumes helped them read as members of the same ensemble rather than as unrelated pieces of stage equipment.
The flips created the biggest visual surprise. A robot that can walk or wave in a controlled demonstration is showing basic locomotion. A robot that can perform a fast, whole-body maneuver near other performers is dealing with a much harder problem: shifting its center of mass, controlling angular momentum, recovering its feet accurately, and completing the landing without disturbing the following movement. On a concert stage, it must also do that at the correct musical moment.
Which robots were performing?
The Chengdu machines were reported as Unitree G1 humanoid robots. They were not Boston Dynamics Spot quadrupeds and were not the Unitree H1 robots that appeared in an earlier Chinese television performance. That distinction matters because Unitree has shown several different robot platforms in entertainment settings, and images of a humanoid robot in a costume do not identify its model by themselves.
| Performance | Robot reported | What is documented |
|---|---|---|
| Wang Leehom, Chengdu, December 19, 2025 | Six Unitree G1 humanoids | Reports described synchronized choreography with Leehom and human dancers, including kicks and flips. |
| “YangBOT,” Chinese Spring Festival Gala | Sixteen Unitree H1 humanoids | Unitree described synchronized Yangko-inspired movement and a production system involving motion mapping, reinforcement learning, group-dance control, rhythm alignment, and foot-end shock and noise reduction. |
Unitree’s official G1 materials describe a humanoid platform with a complex mechanical structure and high-power actuation. That makes it a plausible machine for a demanding choreographed demonstration, but the product description alone does not prove which software, sensors, rehearsal methods, or safety procedures were used at the Chengdu concert.
Unitree’s account of the H1 “YangBOT” performance is useful context for the company’s broader entertainment work, not a technical specification for the G1 routine. The H1 production reportedly used video-based dance-motion generation and mapping, reinforcement-learning-based whole-body motion, a group-dance control console, rhythm alignment, and measures intended to reduce foot impact and noise. Those are company-reported elements of the H1 gala performance and should not be silently transferred to the G1 appearance.
How can a humanoid robot dance on a live stage?
The smoothness of a finished routine can make it appear as though the robot is dancing spontaneously. In practice, the most defensible explanation is a preplanned motion sequence combined with real-time balance and safety control. The exact control stack used in Chengdu has not been publicly established.
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A modern humanoid routine can involve several layers:
- Choreography and motion capture: A human dancer’s movements may be recorded, or a routine may be authored directly for the robot. Human motion gives choreographers a starting point, but a robot cannot simply copy every human joint trajectory.
- Motion retargeting: Software maps the source movement to the robot’s different proportions, joint limits, actuator speeds, and balance requirements. Research systems have used quadratic programming to find robot motions that satisfy competing constraints such as foot contact, posture, joint limits, and collision avoidance.
- Trajectory refinement: Optimization can smooth or reshape the motion so it is physically achievable rather than merely visually similar to the original dance.
- Balance and disturbance rejection: A model-predictive controller can adjust the robot’s body and foot placement as it executes the routine. That layer is important when the machine lands from a jump, encounters a small floor irregularity, or experiences an imperfect contact.
- Show synchronization: Robot actions can be aligned with music, lighting, video, and other effects through cues or timecode. Boston Dynamics’ Spot Choreographer is a public example of this kind of production integration, but it is not evidence that Unitree used Boston Dynamics software.
- Human supervision: A live demonstration may include operators, safety personnel, emergency-stop systems, or the ability to interrupt a sequence. The presence of a polished routine does not establish that no human was monitoring it.
A 2026 research paper on whole-body humanoid dancing described a pipeline based on motion capture, robot retargeting through quadratic programming, trajectory optimization, and model-predictive control. The researchers validated the approach in a four-minute public performance involving four robots. That research helps explain how a routine like the Chengdu number can be engineered, but it does not show that the concert used the same algorithm.
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Another research effort, evaluated primarily on Unitree G1 hardware, used residual-action reinforcement learning for long-horizon humanoid motion tracking. Such work supports the broader idea that simulation and reinforcement learning can improve robustness. It is still not evidence that the Leehom performance was controlled by that particular system.
Why the flips matter more than the novelty
A robot dancing in a video can be restarted until the best take is obtained. A robot dancing in a concert must perform at the scheduled time, in front of an audience, alongside people and equipment. The engineering challenge is not just making a single motion possible; it is making a long sequence repeatable enough for a live production.
Every additional movement creates another opportunity for failure. A kick changes the robot’s support pattern. A turn can introduce lateral momentum. A jump or flip demands a controlled takeoff and landing. A costume can affect clearance, visibility, or the way the machine is perceived by its cameras and nearby performers. Stage lighting, reflective surfaces, cable routing, floor friction, and human traffic can also complicate operation.
That is why the Chengdu number is best understood as both entertainment and an engineering demonstration. The robots had to satisfy two audiences at once: concertgoers looking for spectacle and engineers looking for repeatable locomotion under constraints. The performance does not prove that humanoids are generally reliable in every environment, but it does show how a controlled entertainment setting can make advanced movement legible to a mass audience.
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More than one robot concert
The Chengdu appearance fits a wider shift from robot demonstrations toward dedicated live entertainment.
- RoboFonica markets a touring music-and-dance production for 2026/27 that it says combines four or more humanoid robots with live human performers and singers. This is a company description of a planned or marketed show, not independent evidence of every performance detail.
- BODI, a physical-AI entertainment venture from Composition Inc., describes a 2026 Japanese stage performance in which a humanoid robot danced, walked a runway, used five-finger gestures, and synchronized with live production systems. Those claims also come from the company and should be treated accordingly.
- Yaskawa, Rhizomatiks, and ELEVENPLAY have presented human-and-robot stage work documented by NTT InterCommunication Center. That production combined human dancers, industrial robots, motorized flying cubes, programmed choreography, and projections to explore how humans and machines could share a performance.
- Boston Dynamics has a substantial public record of robot dance demonstrations. The company’s own account recalls the 2018 Spot dance video and a later stage appearance involving several Spots under operator supervision. One robot stopped during the routine, a useful reminder that live robotics has visible failure modes even when the machines are highly capable.
These examples are not interchangeable. A quadruped performing a programmed routine, an industrial robot moving within a fixed installation, and a bipedal humanoid executing a flip have different mechanical and safety constraints. Together, however, they show that robotics companies and creative producers are treating the stage as a meaningful application environment rather than merely a backdrop for product promotion.
Are robots replacing backup dancers?
Not on the evidence available from Chengdu. The robots occupied the visual role of backup dancers for one choreographed number, but they performed alongside a human dance crew rather than replacing one.
Human performers still contribute qualities that a rehearsed robot routine does not automatically provide: facial and emotional expression, improvisation, physical contact, adaptation to a changing stage, and the ability to respond fluidly when another performer misses a cue. They also absorb some of the practical uncertainty of live work in ways that machines cannot.
Robots can be attractive collaborators when a production wants movements that are difficult, repetitive, visually unusual, or tightly synchronized. They can repeat a programmed gesture with mechanical consistency and create a futuristic visual identity. But the current evidence supports describing them as spectacle performers and stage collaborators, not as a general replacement for professional dancers.
Can the public buy the same robot?
Possibly, but this is not a case of buying a toy and sending it onto a stage. Secondary reports published in February 2026 said Unitree listed a G1 humanoid robot on Amazon’s U.S. marketplace for approximately $17,990. Those reports described the listing as sold by Unitree and distinguished the consumer-facing configuration from more programmable or education-oriented versions.
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- Easy setup – no coding required for basic use Unbox, power on, and start. Manual teaching feature: physically pose the robot, and it replays the motion. Graphical drag-and-drop programming also available.
- More DOF = more expressive movement 26‑DOF models (R1 / R1 Edu) add head and waist articulation for smoother dance and running. For safety reasons, only basic actions are currently available; advanced movements are not yet released.
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That information is volatile. A current purchase decision would require checking the live listing for the exact model, seller, configuration, shipping terms, warranty, regional restrictions, and availability. An official G1 product page is the authoritative reference for the robot model itself, but it does not independently establish that an Amazon listing remains active. The reported price should therefore not be treated as a current quotation.
Readers looking for the machine seen in the Chengdu reports should search for the Unitree G1 humanoid robot, while remembering that the G1 is a specialized research-and-development platform with substantial hardware, software, safety, and operating requirements. It is not a plug-and-play home entertainment device, and buying the hardware would not automatically provide the concert choreography or the production expertise required to perform it safely.
For a much more accessible hands-on project, a small dancing robot STEM kit, such as the SunFounder Dancing Sloth example identified in the research, is a different category of product. It is a compact four-degree-of-freedom educational project, not a scaled-down G1. It cannot reproduce the Chengdu robots’ size, balance behavior, mobility, or acrobatic movement. Its value is educational: it lets a beginner explore motors, programming, and simple choreographed motion at a far lower level of complexity.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What this performance does—and does not—prove
| The performance supports | The performance does not establish |
|---|---|
| Humanoids can be integrated into a polished commercial concert routine. | That the robots invented the choreography or improvised with the music. |
| Several robots can execute visibly coordinated movement in a live venue. | That the machines were fully autonomous or operated without human supervision. |
| Robotic flips, kicks, and synchronized gestures can function as stage spectacle. | That the same routine would be safe or reliable in an uncontrolled public environment. |
| Humanoid robots can act as new kinds of supporting performers. | That they are ready to replace human dancers or serve as general-purpose household robots. |
A later report said a Unitree humanoid robot appeared again as a backup dancer at Wang Leehom’s Hangzhou concert on May 29, 2026. If accurately reported, that follow-up suggests the idea may be repeatable as a promotional or production concept rather than a one-time demonstration. It remains secondary reporting, however, and should not be treated as proof of an identical six-robot lineup or identical choreography.
The practical significance
The important change is not that robots have suddenly become dancers in the human sense. It is that humanoid robots are being evaluated in a new public role. Earlier demonstrations often emphasized walking, balancing, martial-arts movements, or isolated technical tricks. A concert asks a broader question: can the machine contribute to a designed experience?
To succeed, it must look coordinated from the audience, respond to cues at the correct time, stay upright, coexist with human performers, fit the show’s visual language, and fail safely if something goes wrong. Those requirements make live entertainment a narrow but revealing test of embodied intelligence and production engineering.
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- Easy setup – no coding required for basic use Unbox, power on, and start. Manual teaching feature: physically pose the robot, and it replays the motion. Graphical drag-and-drop programming also available.
- More DOF = more expressive movement 26‑DOF models (R1 / R1 Edu) add head and waist articulation for smoother dance and running. For safety reasons, only basic actions are currently available; advanced movements are not yet released.
- Voice interaction + two color options Responds to English voice commands (music, conversation, photo). Choose Gold or Blue‑White with automotive‑grade gloss paint.
- R1 Edu adds open development SDK/API access for custom programming, simulation platforms, and future Unistore content downloads. Adult use only – under 18 requires adult supervision.
Event producers are now beginning to market humanoid robot entertainment as a category of its own. That does not mean every robot company can supply a touring act, or that every advertised performance will meet the standard of a major concert. It does suggest that robot makers, choreographers, and live-production teams are exploring a commercial path between laboratory research and mass-market consumer products.
The Chengdu performance is therefore best read neither as a publicity stunt with no technical value nor as proof that autonomous performers have arrived. It was a carefully controlled piece of entertainment that demonstrated a genuinely difficult capability: making multiple bipedal machines appear to belong in a live dance ensemble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were the concert robots Unitree G1 or Unitree H1 robots?
Event reports identified the six Chengdu performers as Unitree G1 humanoid robots. They were not Boston Dynamics Spot quadrupeds and should not be confused with Unitree H1 robots used in the company’s separate “YangBOT” Spring Festival Gala performance.
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Did the robots replace the human backup dancers?
No. The robots performed alongside Wang Leehom and a human dance crew in one choreographed number. The available evidence supports describing them as supporting performers or stage collaborators, not replacements for professional dancers.
Were the robots fully autonomous?
There is no evidence in the supplied reporting that the robots independently invented choreography or improvised emotionally in response to the music. The most defensible description is preplanned choreography combined with balance control, production cues, and potentially remote supervision or intervention.
Can consumers buy the same Unitree G1 robot?
A live Amazon U.S. listing was reported in February 2026 at approximately $17,990, but the listing was not independently verified in the research pass. Buyers would need to check the current seller, configuration, price, shipping terms, warranty, and availability. The G1 is a specialized robotics platform, not a toy.
How do humanoid robots perform a synchronized dance routine?
A typical system may use authored or motion-captured choreography, motion retargeting, trajectory optimization, real-time balance control, and timecode or other show-control cues. Research demonstrates these techniques on humanoid robots, but the Chengdu production’s exact software and operating procedures have not been publicly confirmed.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Six reported Unitree G1 humanoids joined Wang Leehom’s human dancers in Chengdu on December 19, 2025, performing a rehearsed, synchronized routine that included kicks and flips. It was an impressive demonstration of choreographed robotic movement and live-show integration—but not evidence of autonomous pop stars or the wholesale replacement of human dancers.
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