Rediscover Chinatown: Performing Arts, Identity and the Making of Community

Celebrate Chinatown as a vibrant community where Chinese art and performance continue to thrive in America, from historic opera theaters to the lively lion dances of Lunar New Year. Through these creative expressions, Chinatown has forged a distinctive identity that is both artistically rich and deeply connected to Chinese and American cultures.

In this conversation, Nancy Yunhwa Rao, a distinguished professor of music at Rutgers University, will trace the fascinating history of Chinese opera theaters in North America, where stories of loyalty and passion captivated audiences across cultures since their beginnings in the mid-19th century. David Lei, a community leader and cultural advocate, will reflect on Chinatown’s enduring legacy as a close-knit, resilient and artistically dynamic community whose performing arts embody the spirit and creativity of Chinese America.

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