NTD’s 11th International Classical Chinese Dance competition continued at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center in Chester, New York.
After junior dancers opened the stage on Thursday, adult competitors brought their skill and expression to the spotlight on Friday.
Competitors from around the world performed in the preliminary rounds, each with a choreographed dance and a set of required techniques. For the adult divisions, that means higher difficulty—advanced leaps, flips, and dramatic storytelling.
“The biggest challenge is really the training process. I’ve competed many times before, but it’s been six or seven years since my last time. I know how grueling it can be—you often feel like giving up, or even that you’re dancing worse than before,” contestant Linjie Huang said. “It takes relentless effort. Even though I prepared myself mentally, going through it again still requires a lot of perseverance.”…