From the legendary Mulan to modern-day Michelle, the original Canadian dance drama My Mulan connects cultures through love, courage, and belief.
The spirit of Mulan belongs not only to history or one culture, but to anyone who chooses courage over fear and hope over doubt.”— Lin Li, Chief Director of My Mulan
My Mulan, an original Canadian inspirational fantasy dance drama, ended its eighth season following three performances held from August 7 to 9 at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in Niagara, Ontario.
Since its creation and debut in Canada in 2019, My Mulan has completed eight seasons and 26 professional theatre presentations. Across the years, the show has earned ongoing acknowledgment and backing from elected officials at Canada’s federal, provincial, and municipal levels, including former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as from the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto and multicultural community arts figures, all of whom have commended the piece for its modern relevance and cross-cultural influence.
Rather than merely repeating a well-known tale, My Mulan re-envisions Hua Mulan’s story through a modern perspective by linking her journey to Michelle, a contemporary young woman seeking her own direction. Using a multidisciplinary stage approach that fuses Chinese dance, contemporary dance, ballet, hip-hop, martial arts, theater, original music, and multimedia, the production delves into universal topics such as love, bravery, duty, faith, and self-identity.
The eighth season represented a fresh phase in the work’s artistic evolution. Under the guidance of Chief Director Lin Li, the production debuted new choreography and polished existing dance pieces, while also revamping lighting, video backdrops, and surtitles to enhance the visual narrative and emotional clarity. These refinements resulted in a more unified theater experience and rendered the story more understandable for audiences coming from varied cultural backgrounds.
Jane Jingzhu Li, Artistic Advisor of My Mulan and representative of co-presenter Niagara Centre for Arts, stated: “My Mulan brings together Eastern and Western artistic elements through the stories of Michelle and Mulan, sharing the power of love, courage, and faith. We hope the spirit of Mulan can cross cultural and linguistic boundaries and continue to inspire generations.”
Chief Director Lin Li reflected on the vision behind the production: “My Mulan was never intended simply to retell a familiar legend. It was created to tell a story that belongs to all of us. I truly believe there is a Mulan within each of us.”
A standout moment from the opening reception involved the presence and speech of Lesley Greene, Councillor of Six Nations. Her participation brought meaningful Indigenous and local cultural resonance to the event, further highlighting My Mulan’s expanding inclusivity and dedication to cross-cultural exchange.
Audience reactions to the eighth season mirrored the production’s ongoing progress. Returning spectator Daisy Gao wrote following the performance, “My Mulan continues to improve every year, and it still surprises me.” She added, “May we all be like Mulan—soft at heart, yet sharp in strength.”
Another local audience member commented, “I was more familiar with Disney’s version of Mulan, but My Mulan gave me a much deeper appreciation of the beauty and strength of the Eastern cultural heritage behind the story.”
Canadian brand strategist and My Mulan Branding Consultant Hua Yu, who has backed the production since its 2019 premiere, also praised this year’s show, saying, “Tonight’s performance was wonderful. It has improved so much again since last year.”
The production also hosted Richard, a director affiliated with the Shaw Festival, who conveyed strong admiration for the performance and urged the creative team to think about bringing My Mulan to downtown Toronto down the line so that even wider audiences can witness this original Canadian dance drama.
Across eight seasons, My Mulan has united artists and viewers from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Its aim is not merely to showcase Chinese culture, but to forge a contemporary artistic language through which audiences unfamiliar with The Ballad of Mulan or Chinese history can still relate to Mulan’s love, decisions, struggles, duty, and bravery.
With the conclusion of its three Niagara shows, Season Eight has officially drawn to a close. Yet My Mulan presses on with the same conviction that sparked its creation: the spirit of Mulan belongs not only to history or to one culture, but to anyone who chooses courage over fear, hope over doubt, and the strength to write their own story.
Maggie Han
Canada Universal Media Association
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My Mulan Fantasy Dance Drama
