Tan Yuanyuan shines at anniversary gala in Shanghai

The Shanghai International Dance Center celebrated its 10th anniversary with a spectacular performance, "Tan Yuanyuan and Her Friends Global Stars Gala," on July 10. Led by the internationally acclaimed ballet artist Tan Yuanyuan, the evening brought together 18 top dancers from China and abroad for a dazzling cross-cultural celebration of classical and contemporary dance.

For Tan, this performance carried special significance. It marked her first return to the stage as a dancer since retiring from the San Francisco Ballet in 2024 after a 29-year career. A protégé of the Shanghai Dance School—formerly located on this very site—Tan became the youngest principal in the San Francisco Ballet's history at 19 and has since earned global accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Dance Magazine.