” Conversation & Connection” Gala Concludes Successfully

On June 8, 2026, the “Conversation & Connection” China-Sweden Dance and Song Gala, organized by the Chinese Embassy in Sweden and hosted by China Cultural Center in Stockholm and the Center for International Cultural Exchange, was successfully held at the Vasa Theatre in Stockholm. The performance featured a collaboration among Chinese and foreign artists, including South-Central Minzu University Art Troupe, the Royal Institute of Art, Lilla Akademien, and folk artists from Shaanxi. Chinese Ambassador to Sweden Zhou Limin and his wife, along with about 500 guests from various sectors including Swedish culture, tourism, and Chinese compatriots overseas, attended the event.

Themed “Conversation & Connection,” the gala brought together artists from South-Central Minzu University Art Troupe, who delivered performances rich in Chinese ethnic characteristics. They shared the stage with faculty, students, and several prominent musicians from Sweden’s Lilla Akademien. Through deep collaborations across multiple programs, Chinese folk arts blended harmoniously with Swedish classical and modern art forms.

The gala commenced with the stirring sounds of the suona and the beloved northern Shaanxi folk song Ninety-Nine Bends of the Yellow River. The soaring voices of a northern Shaanxi folk-song duet, accompanied by an energetic group dance performed by South-Central Minzu University Art Troupe, instantly ignited the audience’s enthusiasm and filled the venue with excitement.

1.Grassland Charm

South-Central Minzu University Art Troupe presented a seamless blend of the Morin Khuur (horse-head fiddle), Khoomei (throat singing), and the Bowl-Balancing Dance, vividly capturing the rugged vitality and dynamic grace of the grasslands in Northern China. In a subsequent highlight, the Chinese Morin Khuur soloist joined forces with young Swedish violinist William Holmquist and Swedish musician Nina Balabina on the piano to perform the classic piece Pastoral Song. When the traditional Chinese instrument met the Western violin, the fusion of Eastern and Western strings brought a truly unique and refreshing auditory experience to the audience.

2.Wings of Song

This section featured a diverse repertoire spanning Western opera, Chinese vocal performance, traditional folk music, and artistic improvisation, highlighting the richness and diversity of musical expression across cultures.

Renowned Swedish soprano Astrid Banck Linderoth, accompanied by pianist Yan Shuang Lindblom and violinist Aleksandra Bakiu, performed Tu che di gel sei cinta and Signore, ascolta!, two celebrated selections from Puccini’s opera Turandot. Their refined interpretation showcased remarkable artistry and musical excellence. South-Central Minzu University Art Troupe then presented the duet The Drunken Beauty, skillfully blending traditional Chinese operatic aesthetics with contemporary musical expression and offering audiences a fresh interpretation of a classic story. The section also featured “Songs from Northern Shaanxi,” performed by solo vocalist Qu Wangwang and suona player Zhang Minghu. Both northern Shaanxi folk songs and the suona are recognized as elements of China’s national intangible cultural heritage. Through the distinctive interplay between voice and suona, the performance vividly conveyed the profound cultural heritage, enduring vitality, and resilient spirit of China’s Loess Plateau. Finally, Swedish percussionist Valter Erixon presented “Swedish Folk Song Improvisation,” an original arrangement inspired by traditional Swedish folk melodies. By reimagining familiar folk tunes through creative improvisation, the performance demonstrated the innovative possibilities of musical expression and intercultural artistic exchange.

3Dance Along the Silk Road

In the section “Dance Along the Silk Road,” South-Central Minzu University Art Troupe presented two visually stunning performances that seamlessly blended grace and strength. The female group dance Seeking Loulan featured light and flowing movements that transported the audience across time and space, unveiling the mystery and elegance of the ancient Loulan civilization hidden deep within the desert. This was followed by the male group dance Dancing Martial Brilliance, which skillfully combined the strength and discipline of traditional Chinese martial arts with the dynamic energy of contemporary dance. With swift movements, powerful gestures, and commanding stage presence, the performers brought the spirit of Chinese martial culture vividly to life. Together, these contrasting yet complementary performances—one graceful and ethereal, the other vigorous and powerful—captured both the exotic charm of the Silk Road and the heroic spirit embodied in Chinese martial arts, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience.

4.Dance and Martial Brilliance

In this section, Chinese and Western musical classics were presented in succession, offering audiences a rich and engaging musical experience. In the piano four-hands performance, Yan Shuang Lindblom and Rolf Lindblom collaborated on Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon and Libertango. The combination of a beloved Chinese classic and a renowned tango masterpiece captivated the audience and highlighted the beauty of cross-cultural musical dialogue.

The chamber quartet Swedish Rhapsody brought together an outstanding ensemble of Chinese and Swedish musicians, featuring pianists Yan Shuang Lindblom and Rolf Lindblom, guitarist Anders Delin, and violinists David Hurtado Gomez and Aleksandra Bakiu. Through their seamless collaboration and expressive musicianship, the performers delivered a memorable interpretation that demonstrated the harmony and vitality of cultural exchange through music.

5.Celebrating Harmony

The grand finale of the gala – the Traditional Chinese and Swedish Costume Show – perfectly presented the beauty of traditional garments from both countries on the stage. The lovely children from Lilla Akademien, dressed in traditional Swedish folk costumes, walked onto the stage while playing Swedish folk tunes, and then warmed the hearts of the entire audience with a moving rendition of the classic Chinese song Jasmine Flower.

South-Central Minzu University Art Troupe also took to the stage to showcase their exquisite traditional attire. As all the performers joined the enthusiastic audience to dance to the festive music of Celebrating Together, the performance came to a successful close.

6.Art as the Matchmaker, Dialogue World

On the occasion of the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, the “Conversation & Connection” China-Sweden Song and Dance Gala, hosted by China Cultural Center in Stockholm, paired Chinese folk dance and music with Swedish arts, building a bridge of friendship for mutual cultural learning through music. Art knows no borders, and this cross-cultural audiovisual dialogue proved that aesthetic empathy can overcome all barriers, and people-to-people bonds pave the way for mutual appreciation among civilizations.

Looking ahead, China Cultural Center in Stockholm will continue to use art as a bridge, deeply cultivating exchanges between Chinese and Swedish folk arts to promote equal dialogue between Eastern and Western civilizations, allowing the shared sentiment of harmony and beauty to endure.

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