Two of Guangdong's most celebrated intangible cultural heritage traditions, the Southern Lion Dance and Yingge Dance, made their U.S. debut together on the evening of July 22, bringing the energy and spirit of Lingnan culture to thousands of spectators at New York's Lincoln Center.
Invited by the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts as part of its Summer for the City: Chinese Arts Week, the performance presented a one-hour showcase that blended centuries-old traditions with contemporary stage design.
The open-air dance floor at Lincoln Center was transformed into a vibrant stage for Lingnan culture, where powerful drumbeats, soaring lions and energetic Yingge dancers drew large crowds of New Yorkers, tourists and members of the Chinese community.
To provide a unique experience for international audiences, the production retained iconic traditional routines including the classic lion "cai qing" (plucking the greens) ceremony and the "King of Lions" competition while incorporating modern hip-hop music into the choreography.
"We want audiences to see that Guangdong's thousand-year-old intangible cultural heritage is still cool, youthful and fashionable," said Zhao Weibin, a representative inheritor of the Zhao Family Lion Dance.
The Yingge Dance performers demonstrated the dance's signature power and precision through synchronized footwork and dynamic hammer techniques, demonstrating why Yingge is often referred to as China's "warrior dance." Following the performance, audience members were invited on stage for an immersive cultural experience, where they were taught how to play Yingge wooden batons and how to handle traditional lion heads by the performers.
"It was incredible," said a New York resident who attended the performance with their child. "It felt like more than a performance, it was a powerful ritual that gave me a completely new understanding of traditional Chinese culture."
The performance also resonated strongly with the local Chinese community. Li Hanqiang, executive chairman of the American Chaozhou Business Association, said Yingge represents unity and loyalty, while the lion dance symbolizes prosperity and good fortune. Their joint appearance, he noted, showcased not only the richness of Chinese culture but also its enduring vitality across generations and borders.
Following the Lincoln Center performance, the troupe will stage pop-up performances in Times Square, Manhattan's Chinatown and the American Dream shopping mall in New Jersey, bringing Guangdong's living cultural traditions to even more audiences.
Reporter | Li Fangwang
Video & Poster | Li Fangwang
