TROY – A visiting scholar is sharing China’s traditional dance culture with students at Troy University. Qian Chen, a teacher of folk dance at Sichuan Normal University in China, was invited to lecture and teach by the Department of Theatre and Dance for four months. “The dance major at Troy University mainly features modern dance and ballet, so I hope that my dances with Chinese characteristics could better facilitate culture exchanges and students’ understanding of China,” Chen said. In China, folk dance incorporates most traditional Chinese dance styles, with more concentration on ethnic styles including Tibetan, Mongolian, Uygur, North Korean, Dai and Li. Chen said she hopes to present most of the traditional forms of dance to students, faculty members and the community at large to promote “a mutual understanding between folk dance in China and modern dance in the United States.” During her time at the University, Chen has presented lectures and taught technique to dance majors, and has performed at various events, including the Troy Rotary Club’s Peace Forum initiative, International Education Week and the International Student Cultural Organization’s Festival.