By Jin Lu

An original Chinese dance drama from Ningbo will return to the United States this September, bringing the legendary story of Hua Mulan to one of New York's most prestigious cultural venues.

Created by the Ningbo Performing & Arts Group, Mulan will be staged four times from Sept 18 to 20 at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City's Lincoln Center. It marks the production's New York debut and its second US tour, after shows in Boston and Washington, D.C., in 2023.

Directed by Zhou Liya and Han Zhen, the production explores filial piety, loyalty and love through the story of a young woman who takes her father's place in the army.

Since its 2017 premiere at the National Center for the Performing Arts, Mulan has been performed more than 100 times worldwide. Its 2023 US tour was warmly received by local audiences and media. Among those who saw the production was Tweed Roosevelt, a great-grandson of former US President Theodore Roosevelt and a professor at Long Island University. After attending two performances in a row, he praised the show, saying, "It is rare to see such a magnificent performance."

Its Lincoln Center debut is more than an overseas performance, offering another opportunity for Chinese culture to reach new audiences and connect with people through the arts.