A Transcendent Art Form: 3 Siblings Join a Cultural Renaissance Spearheaded by Shen Yun

A family of dancers, who found their calling in a 5,000-year-old culture, travel the world showcasing stories that resonate across boundaries.

(L–R) Adam Parker, Lillian Parker, and Katherine Parker are unexpected ambassadors for a millennia-old Chinese art form. Samira Bouaou for American Essence

A “white Mulan?” That’s weird, they bluntly told her.

Katherine Parker, an award-winning dancer with Shen Yun Performing Arts, the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company, recalled the first time that she portrayed a historical figure in a dance. For a local competition, she wanted to tell the story of Hua Mulan, the courageous heroine of one of ancient China’s best-known legends. Despite her reservations, she decided to press on.