Team captain Chris Chiang said in an email that initially planning the lion dance and ballet to dance together posed a challenge in selecting music. After discussions and trials with ballet dancer Scarlett Lavery, she added that it was decided that the lion dance team would drum to accompany Scarlett's solo ballet, creating a new art form. Both Chris and Scarlett are students at Cranbrook Academy. “The Michigan Lion Dance Team is widening its horizons and incorporating different elements into its traditional celebrations of Chinese art, music and culture,” wrote He. “The 'Eastern Lion Dance Meets Western Ballet' event not only showcased the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures but also displayed the innovation and inclusivity of Taiwanese lion dance culture, bringing an unforgettable cultural feast to the end of the year in Detroit.”

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