Lady
White
Snake
Premieres
in
the
U.S.,
Presented
by
Shanghai
Grand
Theatre
Li
Ming,
President
of
Center
for
the
China
Shanghai
International
Arts
Festival,
stated:
“We
are
honored
to
bring
Haipai
(Shanghai-style)
culture
to
this
global
stage
at
the
invitation
of
Lincoln
Center.
Through
this
unique
artistic
celebration,
we
hope
to
showcase
the
charm
of
Shanghai
and
the
creativity
of
Chinese
artists
to
a
worldwide
audience.”
Mariko Silver, President and CEO of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, said: “We invite New Yorkers and visitors to explore different cultures and deepen their connection to creativity from across the globe here at Lincoln Center. Today’s events are such a beautiful example of cross-cultural exchange and artistic discovery for audiences of all ages. We are so glad to be working with the Center for the China Shanghai International Arts Festival.”
Shanghai Day marked a world-class presentation of Haipai culture. Innovative interpretations of traditional Chinese arts offered immersive and interactive experiences that reshaped global perceptions.
Inside the David H. Koch Theater, the Shanghai Grand Theatre premiered its original dance Lady White Snake to U.S. audiences for the first time. Drawing from the Chinese solar terms for musical inspiration, the performance blended traditional Chinese instruments with Western orchestration and electronic sounds. Visually symbolic elements such as clocks and geometric forms illustrated spatial shifts and emotional depth. The performance integrated ballet, classical Chinese dance, and modern dance into a fluid cross-genre dialogue. Artistic director Tan Yuanyuan led an elite team to deliver a stunning fusion of ballet grace, flowing water sleeves, and poetic stage aesthetics inspired by Jiangnan, presenting an ancient legend in an entirely renewed form.
In the lobby of the David Rubenstein Atrium, the Shanghai Animation Film Studio’s classic The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven captivated audiences with vivid colors and Chinese mythological charm. In the family zone, the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra presented Stories of Chinese Zodiac using suona, pipa, and other folk instruments, accompanied by water ink animation from Zhang Lelu that delighted children and invited them to engage with traditional instruments.
As night fell, the garden transformed into a “Shanghai Cultural Pavilion.” Intangible heritage booths offered hands-on experiences: papercutting, knot buttons, calligraphy, traditional qipao, handmade cotton crafts, vegetarian treats from Longhua Temple, and dazzling cloisonné candy boxes from Lao Feng Xiang. A “Guochao Punk” Peking Opera makeup booth was particularly popular, with New Yorkers lining up for custom opera face designs. Nearby, Zi-Ka-Wei Library showcased Shanghai-themed creative products that condensed cultural meaning into modern design.
At Damrosch Park, the Arknights Concert—produced in collaboration with globally renowned composers like Gareth Coker—offered an electrifying mix of electronic, folk, and symphonic sounds. Audiences were transported into immersive game worlds through high-impact musical storytelling.
Meanwhile, the Dance Floor transformed into a summer dance stage. China’s new generation of dancers energized the crowd with breaking, popping, and locking. Their specially choreographed global hit Spread Your Wings sparked spontaneous dancing among the audience. Jazz trumpeter Li Xiaochuan bridged East and West with original compositions reflecting the evolving “Chinese sound.” As the evening deepened, a “Silent Disco” allowed hundreds of attendees to dance freely in isolated headphone worlds—blending erhu, pipa, and electronic bass.
China’s
New
Generation
of
Dancers
Electrified
the
Stage
at
Lincoln
Center
Throughout
the
event,
the
Lincoln
Center
was
imbued
with
“Shanghai”—from
the
Lujiazui
skyline
to
Yuyuan
Garden
silhouettes.
“Today
felt
like
being
transported
to
the
other
side
of
the
world,”
said
Fromm,
a
New
Yorker
who
had
never
been
to
Shanghai.
“Every
sense—from
sight
and
sound
to
taste—was
immersed
in
a
city
that
is
both
historic
and
modern,
Eastern
and
global.”
As the lights dimmed at Lincoln Center, the cultural resonance of “Shanghai Day” lingered. From elegant pointe work and traditional music to intangible heritage and immersive beats, this celebration became an invisible bridge connecting hearts across the Pacific. Through the power of art and culture, a moving new chapter was written in the story of U.S.-China cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
Hashtag: #ShanghaiEye
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