Mulan tale draws applause, praise

In front of a packed hall at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on Friday, dancer Hao Ruoqi gracefully moved across the stage as she wielded her sword against her opponent.

Hao, portraying the heroine Hua Mulan, was the star of Ningbo Performing Arts Group's Chinese dance drama Mulan.

Based on the beloved folklore of family devotion, loyalty and love, Mulan tells the tale of a young woman in ancient China who disguises herself as a man to take her father's place in the army. This modern interpretation re-imagines the classic tale of the legendary female Chinese warrior Hua Mulan, exploring the themes of self-identity and empowerment through remarkable and compelling dance numbers and exquisite music.