On September 14, 2025, the final day of the 11th NTD Television “World Chinese Classical Dance Competition” was held at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center in Chester, New York. During the awards ceremony that evening, Ouyang Meifeng from the New York Feitian Academy won the silver prize in the junior female category.
Ouyang Meifeng performed a piece called “Mirror Flower, Moon Reflection,” where she displayed graceful movements with ease, elegant spins, and a harmonious blend of dynamic and static elements in her “water sleeve dance.” Her dance captured the essence of the ancient poet’s depiction of “Spring River Flower Moon Night” perfectly.
This was Ouyang Meifeng’s second participation in NTD’s Chinese classical dance competition, with her first being in 2023. “I feel that I have grown a lot over the past two years, such as improving my spins. When I’m nervous, I just think about how spinning is one of my strongest techniques, and it helps to calm my nerves.”
Approaching the competition with a calm mindset, Ouyang said, “I underwent rigorous training for several months. Whatever happens, happens. I believe as long as I maintain a positive mindset, it will be fine.” She added, “I know there are many areas where I need to learn and improve. It’s a never-ending learning process.”
For Ouyang Meifeng, learning dance has been a lifelong dream. “I started learning Chinese dance at a very young age. I was just a few years old when my parents showed me DVDs of Shen Yun performances, and I couldn’t help but dance along.”
Growing up in a Western household in the United States, Ouyang Meifeng found the most challenging part of learning Chinese classical dance to be understanding Chinese traditional culture. “My cultural background is different from my Chinese classmates. But I strive to learn Chinese traditional culture, although it’s a challenging process. My Chinese classmates are excellent and have helped me a lot.”
Explaining her choice to study Chinese classical dance as a Westerner, Ouyang Meifeng said, “Compared to other dance forms, I feel that Chinese classical dance has great depth due to its 5,000 years of cultural heritage. So, I experience many subtle and magical aspects. The depth conveyed through this dance form is profound. I find learning this dance form fascinating and wonderful.”
Ouyang Meifeng mentioned that Chinese traditional culture is vast and profound. She humbly admitted that her understanding of Chinese history and culture is still lacking, but she is particularly interested in Tang poetry. “Tang poetry is so beautiful! I try to memorize them. Each poem has deep meanings.”
In this competition, Ouyang Meifeng performed the water sleeve dance, “Mirror Flower, Moon Reflection.” “Although it doesn’t have a specific storyline, the ambiance I want to convey is a serene night in ancient China, where I bathe in moonlight, strolling by a clear lake.”
“I know ancient people emphasized inner cultivation. I try to portray that serene and introverted temperament as much as possible. I believe this is a part of Chinese traditional culture, and I strive to showcase it through dance.”
“Classical dance offers the audience a sense of pure beauty. It’s closely related to the dancer’s intentions,” Ouyang Meifeng continued. “I try to maintain a pure mind while dancing. I don’t focus on the competition’s outcome but try to enjoy the performance process. I just hope to give the audience a beautiful experience.”
Regarding Shen Yun’s unique dance technique of “body with hands, hips with legs,” Ouyang Meifeng explained, “‘Body with hands’ makes your movements appear more extended and flowing.”
She said, “Because my body is very tense, mastering this technique is not easy. I concentrate on my breathing when practicing, trying to relax my body as much as possible. It’s a challenge for me, but I am working hard to improve.”
Ouyang Meifeng believes she needs to overcome nervousness during competitions the most. “Although I have participated in Shen Yun’s touring performances, I still feel nervous when standing alone on stage for a competition. I strive to keep myself calm, focus on the music, and enjoy the performance.”
She feels that dance is beneficial for both the body and mind. “It’s like a sport, beneficial for the body. But it is even more advantageous for the spirit. I feel that since practicing Chinese classical dance, I have become stronger and stronger.”