“When I hear the music,” Tallahassee dance artist Sarah Peng said, “the picture is already in my mind. I work to give each dance a story that audiences are moved and inspired by.”
Dance is the perfect storytelling medium. Through sound, symbolism, and soul, dancers touch our hearts, open our minds, surprise us with twists and turns that represent life’s journey, and expose us to new cultures and traditions.
“I see dance as an opportunity to showcase culture, educate our community, make new connections, and promote understanding and compassion,” Peng said. “Dance brings many elements together; the result is emotional and inspirational.”
Tallahassee dance artist Sarah Peng will participate in the Experience Asia festival set for Sept. 26, 2026.
Enriching lives through culture and dance
The Asian Coalition of Tallahassee (ACT) promotes the Asian community and culture through several programming opportunities in and around the capital city, including the Experience Asia Festival. This year’s festival is Sept. 26 and will be held at Tom Brown Park. It celebrates Asian culture with live music, performances, vendors, exhibitors, arts and crafts, and a beer garden.
Peng has been part of ACT and the Experience Asia Festival for almost nine years as a choreographer and performer. She brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and passion to the event, helping advance ACT’s mission, uplift the festival, and educate the community on Chinese and other Asian cultures and dances.
“I have a deep passion for classical music, sartorial style, and diverse genres of dance,” Peng said. “I want to bring a wonderful audio-visual experience to Tallahassee and help introduce Chinese and Asian culture to more people. We want performances to feel bright and fresh, while still honoring the traditional styles.”
China has 5,000 years of history and 56 ethnic groups, each with their own unique style. Chinese dance encompasses many elements, including classical, folk, and traditional elements. Storytelling is a key piece, along with vivid costumes and music, which help express culture, history, and emotional depth. “Every year we try to do a different dance, a different style, and different costumes,” Peng explained.
Dances are elegant, thoughtful, emotional, and sometimes whimsical. You can see the dancers’ love, dedication, and commitment to their craft on their faces. And Peng serves as a leader, teaching and inspiring others to keep this beautiful tradition going for generations to come.
Tallahassee dance artist Sarah Peng will be participating in the Experience Asia festival on Sept. 26, 2026.
From Toronto to Tallahassee: A journey in dance
Nine years ago, Peng moved to Tallahassee from Toronto, where she connected with and learned from instructors at Chinese Dance Academies. “I learned various ethnic minority dances under different instructors. I helped some of them establish their own dance troupes,” Peng said.
She supported administration, advertising, student recruitment, teaching, and choreography. She has been dancing for about 20 years and teaching for more than 15 years. While in Toronto, she participated in the Canada 250th Anniversary Celebration at Sony Center and the 2015 musical and dance production “Ode to Peace.”
When Peng arrived in Tallahassee, she met a group of fellow dance lovers and began giving lessons. She connected with ACT and the Asian community and expanded her teaching, performing, and promotion of Asian culture and dance. “Our dance group is called Yun Dance Group. ‘Yun’ means melody in English.” Peng and her students have performed in multicultural events in Tallahassee, Panama City, Carrabelle, and surrounding communities.
Her choreography blends tradition with contemporary presentation, including updated costumes, newly composed music, and sometimes Western influences. “Sometimes I mix Western dance, like ballet, with traditional styles. I also like lyrical dance. I am moved by movies and music, and then I research the story behind the story or song so I can give the dance an idea or a storyline.”
Peng’s creative process requires research, style, and innovation. Her years of dance experience, education, and training are grounded in passion, determination, and a commitment to promoting and educating our community. She wants audiences to ‘Experience Asia’, right here in Tallahassee.
Tallahassee dance artist Sarah Peng is involved with the Asian Coalition of Tallahassee and the Experience Asia Festival, set for Sept. 26, 2026.
A showcase of tradition, talent, and culture
For the upcoming Experience Asia Festival, Peng will be performing a traditional Korean dance; the music is from a film and tells the story of how a woman grows through adversity.
“I have selected newly composed ancient and ethnic music,” Peng explained, “paired with newly designed costumes. The music beautifully blends Western instruments with classical Chinese instruments, such as the erhu and guzheng.”
Her students will perform two traditional Chinese dances. “My students are deeply committed volunteers who give their time and talent. They work hard, and I am proud of what they have accomplished.”
The festival offers an opportunity to experience Asian culture, music, movement, and visually stunning dances that help build bridges between cultures, enhance understanding and respect, and showcase local talent. “I want our residents to be more familiar with Chinese history and culture, and Experience Asia is one way to engage and participate.”
At the Experience Asia Festival, audience members can expect colorful costumes, traditional and modern choreography, lively music, and thoughtful stories that stay with them long after the festival ends.
EPCOT’s Matsuriza Taiko Drummers perform at the Experience Asia Festival.
If you go
What: Experience Asia Festival
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 26
Where: Tom Brown Park, 443-557 Easterwood Drive
Cost: Free and open to the public; asiatlh.org
Michelle R. Nickens is a feature writer for the Council on Culture & Arts; the founder and director of Idi’s Oddities; and an actor, director, artist, and author (michellenickens.com). COCA is the capital area’s umbrella agency for arts and culture (tallahasseearts.org).
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Stories in motion: Sarah Peng brings Asian dance to Tallahassee