On the evening of June 27, an evening gala for the "Bond with Kuliang: 2024 China-U.S. Youth Festival" was held at the Fuzhou Straits Culture and Art Center in Fujian province, east China.

Chinese and American artists gathered to perform songs and dances, offering the audience a feast of audiovisual delights that blended Eastern and Western cultures.

The artistic gymnastics performance "Ribbon Dance" by the Oregon Rhythmic Gymnastics and Dance Academy from the United States takes the stage. [Photo/FZ Evening News]

The gala opened with the dance "Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger," where classical music and traditional dance complemented each other, creating a joyful and festive atmosphere that captivated audiences from both countries.

Carla Canales, a renowned American opera singer, performed the segment "Habanera" from the opera Carmen, bringing the first climax of the evening. She then sang "I Love You China" with a male singer from the Fujian Song and Dance Theater, and their infectious voices drew continuous applause from the audience.

With the rise and fall of his fingers, melodious tunes flowed from the black and white keys. Norman Charette, a young American pianist, immersed the audience in a wonderfully enchanting musical world with his performance "Joyful Island".

Young pianist Ruan Yangyang from Fujian province and his classmates from the Curtis Institute of Music in the United States left a lasting impression with their performance of "Big Fish" and "Jasmine Flower."

Ruan mentioned that playing traditional Chinese music with Western instruments could enhance cultural exchange. As Jasmine is the city flower of Fuzhou, the Chinese folk song "Jasmine Flower" was chosen to publicize the city at the event.

The artistic gymnastics performances "Ribbon Dance" and "Body Logic" by the Oregon Rhythmic Gymnastics and Dance Academy from the United States were a blend of strength and grace, holding the audience's attention throughout.

After the performance, participants take group photos to commemorate the event. [Photo/FZ Evening News]

Kuliang was one of the hot topics at the gala. The dance "Kuliang Families" and the song and dance "Pursuing the Dream in Kuliang" transported everyone back to Kuliang. Chinese and American young artists vividly narrated the story of Kuliang through song and dance, allowing the audience to appreciate its unique beauty.

"The performance was fantastic. Artists from both countries built a bridge of friendship through art", said Pan Xinwei, a faculty member at Fuzhou Vocational and Technical College. Pan graduated from the University of Southern California and once taught Chinese in the United States. She said that the 2024 China-U.S. Youth Festival provided a platform for Chinese youth to communicate with American youth, and she also made new American friends through this event.