On June 9, Jiangsu University (JSU) hosted the fourth session of the Dance of Rivers Sino–US Youth Cultural Exchange Event, themed “Youth, Companionship, and Future.” The event featured a dazzling collaborative performance by the Utah State Youth Dance Troupe and students from JSU, celebrating diversity, artistic expression, and friendship across borders.

The program opened with a high-energy jazz piece titled “Spectrum” performed by the Utah troupe. The evening featured a wide range of dance styles, including Samba, Hip-Hop, Latin, and contemporary, reflecting the vibrant creativity of American youth. Jiangsu University’s Art School, led by Prof. Danny Dong, presented an original modern dance piece, “The Fall of Emotions,” based on the musical The Story of Pearl Buck, highlighting the legacy of cultural exchange between China and the United States.

This marks the fourth visit of the Utah Youth Dance Troupe to JSU, and once again the performers won the hearts of the audience with their passion and professionalism. The event is a vivid response to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2023 initiative to invite 50,000 American youth to visit China in the coming five years. It exemplifies Jiangsu University’s commitment to cultural dialogue and people-to-people exchange under the “Dance of Rivers” brand.

More than 1,000 people attended the event, including university leaders such as Secretary of the CPC Jiangsu University (JSU) Committee Li Hongbo and Vice President of JSU Prof. Zhang Jijian, deans from various schools of JSU, and officials from Zhenjiang’s municipal departments and cultural organizations.

As a hub for international education, JSU continues to embrace openness as a guiding principle and provides meaningful platforms for youth from around the world to meet, connect, and grow together.

(Source: United Front Work Office)