Legendary heroine Mulan dances at Kennedy Center

"The loyalty, filial piety and patriotism in this work are also common emotions of mankind, and I believe that American audiences will certainly resonate," Li said.

Li's group has invited the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra to visit China, and has also sent performances of Chinese folk music, opera, folk dance, ballet and other arts to the US.

Speaking at a reception, Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng noted that dancing transcends national borders and art is a universal language of all humanity.

Xie also said Mulan's courage and her love for family, for her country and for peace are qualities cherished in both Chinese and American societies.

"The same traits are necessary for today's China-US relationship: the courage to forge ahead, the resolve to blaze a new trail and the perceptiveness to look though the mists," the envoy said.

Three performances of the dance drama were scheduled for Sept 30 and Oct 1 at the Kennedy Center.