As a highlight of the 2025 "Happy Chinese New Year" celebrations, the National Ballet of China premiered Chinese New Year (A Ballet in Two Acts) on Jan 29 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.
Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng, his wife Madam Wang Dan, and Minister-Counselor for Cultural and Tourism Affairs Chen Chunmei attended the performance by invitation, joining an audience of over 2,300 in celebrating the Chinese New Year through an artistic feast.
In his remarks before the performance, Ambassador Xie described the National Ballet of China as China's most prestigious ballet company and the Kennedy Center as the national artistic mecca of the United States. "When these two come together, you can expect nothing less than magic," he said. He highlighted that Chinese New Year is the Chinese adaptation of The Nutcracker, blending the beloved Christmas classic with Spring Festival traditions and merging Western ballet with Chinese culture.
Xie noted that the performance features artists from both countries co-presenting a beautiful tale of family reunion and harmony during the Spring Festival. He emphasized that this cultural exchange underscores shared values between the Chinese and American people—an appreciation for beauty, a love for art, and a pursuit of a better life. He also called for building more cultural and artistic bridges between China and the US to foster greater mutual understanding.
Adapted from the classic ballet The Nutcracker, the Chinese New Year incorporates elements of traditional Chinese culture, including the "Twelve Zodiac Dance", the "Spring Couplets Dance", and the "Crane Dance", vividly capturing the festive atmosphere. The National Ballet of China, in collaboration with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and the National Children’s Chorus of the United States, delivered a spectacular performance that received rounds of thunderous applause and more than a dozen curtain calls.
Following the performance, Ambassador Xie and Madam Wang took to the stage to greet the cast and crew, expressing their gratitude for their dedication in bringing an original Chinese ballet production to American audiences during a time traditionally reserved for family reunions. Xie remarked that the performance not only showcased world-class artistic excellence but also embodied China’s deep cultural confidence and openness.
He reiterated that the future of China-US relations lies with the people and is rooted in both societies. He encouraged the National Ballet of China to continue contributing to cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.
