The 5th River Dance – Youth, Friendship, Dreams China-U.S. Youth Campus Cultural Exchange Event Held at JSU

On June 12, the 5th River Dance – Youth, Friendship, Dreams China-U.S. Youth Campus Cultural Exchange Event was held at Jiangsu University (JSU). The event brought together performers from the Utah Youth Dance Troupe, JSU and Zhenjiang Jianghe Senior High School. Using dance and art as mediums, the activity created cross-Pacific youth dialogue and continued the long-running people-to-people cultural exchange between China and the United States.

The performance opened with a short clip from Zootopia, setting a warm, lively atmosphere. The Utah Youth Dance Troupe followed with a series of hip-hop, ballroom, and modern dance works, including Bring It All Out, Flame, Another Sunny Day, and Beyond Feelings, showcasing the vitality and enthusiasm of young U.S. performers. Vocal Solos such as I and Try Everything were also delivered with sincere emotion and solid skill.

JSU’s dance team performed the energetic line dance Vibrant Toes, demonstrating the vitality of contemporary Chinese college students, while Zhenjiang Jianghe Senior High School presented Sparks of Legacy, a dance celebrating Chinese cultural heritage. Joint performances enabled artistic dialogue between Chinese and American youth and deepened mutual understanding and friendship.

A highlight of the event was excerpts from the musical dance poem Memories of the Yangtze River, created by Prof. Dong Rongcan from JSU’s School of Design and Art. Segments This Cold Winter Night and The Golden Moment interpret the Yangtze River’s cultural heritage, while the poetic performance Bridge Poem vividly illustrated the profound meaning of a "bridge of friendship." All Chinese and American performers joined together for the closing piece Beautiful Days, bringing the showto a stirring climax.

The Utah Youth Dance Troupe previously visited Jiangsu University in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2025. Themed "Youth, Friendship, Dreams" , this year’s event carries on the shared exchange history and sustains bilateral youth friendship, powerfully embodying the enduring spirit of China-U.S. people-to-people cultural exchange.

Prior to the performance, the Utah Youth Dance Troupe visited Pearl S. Buck former residence to learn about her lifelong working promoting cultural exchange between East and West.

Chinese and American youth also held a cultural dialogue session centered on the theme At Both Ends of the Bridge: From Pearl S. Buck's Cross-Cultural Writings to the Commonalities and Connections of Contemporary Chinese and American Youth. Participating guests, faculty, and students engaged in in-depth discussions, helping young participants gain richer cross-cultural awareness.

Three scholars devlivered keynote speeches reviewing the century-long history and modern practice of China-U.S. cultural exchange:

1. Prof. Dong Rongcan presented From Pearl S. Buck to Edgar Snow: Historical Narratives and Contemporary Practice of China-U.S. Cultural Exchange, summerizing the historical contributions of civilian cultural envoys like Buck and Snow and sharing JSU's youth exchange practice and achievements.

2. Prof. Mark Keith from Brigham Young University of U.S. gave a talk titled Three Gifts in Life, drawing on his cross-cultural experience to illustrate how artistic sharing, life insights, and technological progress connect the past, present, and future of China-U.S. people-to-people exchange.

3. Prof. Ren Xiaofei from School of Liberal Arts of JSU delivered From the Land to the Stage: Two American Women's Century-Old Ties to China, analyzing the historical significance and contemporary value of China-U.S. folk cultural exchange from a cross-cultural communication perspective.

The final session featured youth speech and open discussion.Utah Youth Dance Troupe and JSU student representatives shared thoughts on topics such as Cultural Identity and China-U.S. People-to-People Friendship Through the Eyes of Youth and American Youths' First Impressions of China. Troupe members shared stories of Utah pioneers like Helen Foster Snow, who crossed oceans to promote mutual understanding between the two nations. Many performers shared how dance broke language barriers during their visit, broadening their horizons and supporting their personal growth. Warm applause filled the venue throughout the free exchange, strengthening the bonds between the young Chinese and American attendees.

(Source: International Office)