Chinese Dance Drama "Mulan" Performed in New York

The Chinese dance drama "Mulan" was performed on September 18 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York. The sold-out performance drew an audience that included Emily Wilcox, a scholar of Chinese dance.

Wilcox, who has dedicated years to studying and teaching Chinese ethnic dance in both the U.S. and China, had seen "Mulan" twice before. The first viewing was in 2023 in Boston and Washington D.C., where she participated in a lecture on Chinese dance culture. The second viewing occurred in Shanghai in 2026, ahead of the drama's new international tour.

The third viewing in New York provided Wilcox with a deeper understanding of the work. She prepared for the performance with a lecture, meticulously studying the drama's evolution, choreographers' interviews, and Chinese dance reviews. Wilcox noted how new interpretations, such as the portrayal of Mulan's womanhood and a departure from traditional endings, unlocked the work's deeper meanings.

Following the performance, audience members engaged with Wilcox and shared their experiences. One elderly woman thanked Wilcox for helping her fully comprehend the work, and Chinese-American sisters felt the performance sparked their curiosity about Chinese culture.

Wilcox's third encounter with "Mulan" at Lincoln Center completed her understanding of the work's narrative and cultural significance, bridging prior gaps through the performance and subsequent conversations.