The 11th NTD “World Classical Chinese Dance Competition” opened grandly at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center in Chester, New York on September 11, 2025. Outstanding Chinese classical dancers from all over the world gathered together to interpret the essence of Chinese culture spanning five thousand years through dance.
Participant Lin Yuzhen from Taiwan expressed that learning traditional Chinese culture has greatly benefited her. The traditional stories of China contain rich character and cultural values, and classical Chinese dance is an art form that can interpret these profound meanings.
This is Lin Yuzhen’s second time participating in the NTD competition. She prepared for this competition for three to four months, and she admitted that the preparation process has been rewarding. “Actually coming to the venue was more stunning than I imagined, and because of the thorough preparation beforehand, I felt and experienced many more layers of things.”
She exemplified, “The nuances of watching other contestants’ movements and expressions at each stage are different. Sometimes after crossing one stage and looking back, you feel the power becoming more concentrated, as if converging at the same focal point.”
For Lin Yuzhen, learning classical Chinese dance is a form of “cultivation.”
“The process of dancing is very challenging, and often it’s not a technical issue that hinders progress, but a matter of mentality. Sometimes even after practicing techniques for a long time, there might not be improvement, but when you break through mentally, you’ve passed the hurdle. This journey has truly helped me grow spiritually through dance.”
Participating in this competition that brings together global elites, she mentioned that it is both an honor and pressure.
“To be able to compete with so many excellent dancers on the same stage is truly an honor. For this competition, I made a strong determination and told myself that I must prepare well, not just come for show, but to compete in the best condition.”
Lin Yuzhen emphasized that participating is not for a sense of achievement, but to delve deeper into learning and promoting traditional Chinese culture. As a university student majoring in dance and minoring in Chinese, she also hopes that through understanding language and cultural history, she can enhance her performance in classical Chinese dance.
Lin Yuzhen said, “In ancient times, women emphasized character cultivation, knowing to restrain emotions and actions. For someone like me whose personality is more outgoing, I need to learn the virtues of introspection and forbearance. This is also a type of low-key and modest demeanor that the ancients emphasized, which modern people can also learn from.”
She expressed that learning traditional Chinese culture has greatly benefited her. The traditional stories of China contain rich character and cultural values, and classical Chinese dance is an art form that can interpret these profound meanings.
“To perform classical Chinese dance well is not just about displaying movements but understanding everything from the character’s personality, historical background, to cultural spirit. Only in this way can you truly dance with charm and move the audience.”
Regarding the significance of traditional Chinese culture for modern people, Lin Yuzhen believes that “returning to tradition and returning to kindness” is extremely important. She mentioned the virtues of “amiability, courtesy, frugality, and humility” and the idea of “deep concealment without revealing” that were highly praised by the ancients but are often misunderstood today.
“Nowadays, some people might think that they shouldn’t too blatantly showcase their strengths, for fear of attracting jealousy. But I believe ‘deep concealment without revealing’ is actually a humble virtue, a restrained and unobtrusive magnanimity. This is a point where many people lack understanding of traditional culture.”
She added that to become a truly outstanding dance performer, one must not only enhance skills but also cultivate inner qualities. “I think one’s psychological state is very important. If a person always feels they are already impressive, they won’t be able to progress further. When others point out your shortcomings, you might also find it hard to accept.”
“So, one must maintain an attitude of ‘art knows no bounds’ to break through oneself and continue to grow. Humility is a crucial characteristic.”