The award-winning classical Chinese dance drama "Butterfly Love" is to make debut at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington state, next week as part of an arts festival currently unfolding in the United States.

The two-hour dance drama, also better known as Chinese Romeo and Juliet, is a newly-choreographed romantic legendary tragic tale in ancient China by famous dance director Li Hengda. 

With a cast of young artists from China's Beijing Dance Academy, the dance drama will bring one of the four most treasured tragic love stories in China to the audiences of the U.S. West Pacific.

"The drama combined the elegant style and expressive techniques of classical Chinese dance and is delivered with the universal language of dancing to tell an old story in a new way," said Li.

This artistic creation of the legendary Chinese tragic romance between Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai employed a lot of traditional styles unique in Chinese dance in new creative techniques of expression with familiar music played in many American symphonies, he said.

"The drama exemplifies traditional Chinese values, such as filial duty, loyalty and honor, which features many unique characteristics of Chinese art," Li added.

"I've lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years, but I think what is most splendid and appealing to American audiences is the special characteristics of the Chinese nation, such as the Chinese artistic conception of poetic interpretation and expression of passion," Li explained.

Across Pacific-China Arts Festival

The drama, which was presented in two shows at San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts on August 29 and 30, is a major part of the Sixth Across Pacific-China Arts Festival that kicked off in San Francisco on Thursday intending to bolster closer connections between Chinese and Americans.

The festival, which lasts until October 18, will bring to American audiences Chinese dances, folk songs, acrobatics, visual arts events featuring Chinese and U.S. paintings and drawings, Chinese tourism photo exhibitions, exotic Chinese food, and intangible Chinese cultural heritage.

Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Wang Donghua said the festival is part of the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations.

"Cultural exchanges between China and the U.S. have played a key role in boosting mutual understanding, trust and confidence between the two peoples," he said.

Wang said the festival is "of special significance" at a moment when U.S.-China ties are facing some problems.

It "offers an important opportunity for American friends to have a better understanding of China and Chinese culture," said Wang.

The festival serves as a platform for Americans, particularly those living in California and other U.S. western coastal cities, to work together with their Chinese counterparts to promote bilateral ties, he said.

California Assemblyman Kansen Chu said the artists from Beijing are really ambassadors of goodwill who bring friendship to California and the U.S. at large.

"We are running into some troubles right now because of our trade differences, but I can assure you that California is definitely on your side because we always want more cultural, business and economic exchanges," said Chu.

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)