Category: Traditional Culture

Portuguese Splendor: Pena Palace

Sitting high on a lush green hilltop overlooking Lisbon and the Portuguese Riviera, Pena Palace (Palácio da Pena) is a UNESCO World Heritage site, an exclamation point of Portuguese national pride, and a fascinating example of Romantic architecture. This colorful castle is often referred to as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. Built between…


Ancient Tales of Wisdom: The Story of a Sage and a Mouse

“Ancient Tales of Wisdom” remind us of the traditions and moral values that have been treasured all over the world. We hope the stories and messages in our Tales of Wisdom series help uplift the hearts and minds of our readers. “The Story of a Sage and a Mouse” is a short tale about the…


Gold Winner Marilyn Yang: ‘I Have a Bigger Responsibility to Revive This Culture’

Shen Yun Performing Arts’ Marilyn Yang won the Gold Award at the 9th NTD International Classical Chinese Dance Competition, which took place Sept. 2–5 in New York state. “This is something that can only motivate me to work harder in my profession,” she said. “In dance, there’s no such thing as ‘perfect’ or ‘you’ve reached…


Gold Winner Stanley Lin: ‘I Look Forward to Doing My Best’

Fei Tian Academy of the Arts’ Stanley Lin won the Gold Award in the Adult Male Division in the 9th NTD International Classical Chinese Dance Competition, which took place Sept. 2–5 in New York state. “Well I’m surprised—I’ve participated in this competition three times now, and I had no expectations to win the Gold Award,” Lin…


Gold Winner Lillian Parker: ‘Art Is Endless’

Shen Yun Performing Arts’ Lillian Parker won the Gold Award in the 9th NTD International Classical Chinese Dance Competition, which took place Sept. 2–5 in New York state. “I’m pretty surprised! This time I tried to make progress with how my movements look and getting more flavor in my dancing—that’s something different than before, and I feel…


Gold Winner Johnny Tsai: ‘I Want to Express This Traditional Culture to Viewers’

Shen Yun Performing Arts’ Johnny Tsai won the Gold Award in the Junior Male Division of the 9th NTD International Classical Chinese Dance Competition, which took place Sept. 2 to Sept. 5 in New York state. Over 100 dancers from around the world participated, and 52 made it into the finals on Sept. 5. “I’m really…


Gold Winner Carol Huang: ‘I Want to Show Them the Beauty of Classical Chinese Dance’

Shen Yun Performing Arts’ Carol Huang took home the Gold Award at the 9th NTD International Classical Chinese Dance Competition in the Junior Female Division yet again. “Actually, I wasn’t thinking about the awards or placements at all when I entered the competition,” Huang said. “I participated to improve in my art—and I learned so much…


Dancers Awarded at NTD International Classical Chinese Dance Competition

Fifty-two dancers participated in the final rounds of the 9th NTD International Classical Chinese Dance Competition in New York state on Sept. 5, bringing the lost dance skills alive on the stage and participating in the revival of traditional culture. The classical Chinese dance competition is one in a series of international cultural and arts events aimed…


Reviving China’s Lost Heritage: Dance Competition Raises the Bar

In the past dozen years classical Chinese dance has burst onto the world stage and drawn intrigue and appreciation from global audiences. The revival of this traditional art form is a departure from the modern China under communist rule that most people know, and the truth about China’s heritage continues to move audiences and motivate…


China’s Lost Culture on Display: Power, Precision, and a Noble Spirit

Lillian Parker took to the stage over the weekend at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center, in long water sleeves, portraying the Taoist spirit of yin and yang. “I thought it was pretty hard, it has a lot of Chinese flavor to it,” Parker said on Sept. 4 after her performance in the semi-finals of…