Pingtan brings a breath of Jiangnan traditional storytelling to New York

NEW YORK — The winding alleys of China's ancient canal towns and the lyrical tones of the Wu dialect are making an appearance far beyond the Yangtze River Delta, resonating on the US stage and in the homes of Chinese American communities.

The traditional opera art of pingtan is taking center stage as the Shanghai Pingtan Troupe tours major US cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Atlanta, with a special performance at the United Nations. The Graceful Jiangnan in Spring Breeze cultural exchange tour, which is running until Friday, is the troupe's second visit to the United States.

A traditional performing art that originated in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, over 400 years ago, pingtan blends storytelling, singing and dialogue. Typically performed in Suzhou dialect by two artists and accompanied by string instruments like the sanxian and the pipa, it is a hallmark of the culture of Jiangnan (the region south of the Yangtze River), and is celebrated for its poetic charm and literary depth.