Shen Yun Performing Arts’ Lillian Parker won the Gold Award in the 9th NTD International Classical Chinese Dance Competition, which took place Sept. 2–5 in New York state. “I’m pretty surprised! This time I tried to make progress with how my movements look and getting more flavor in my dancing—that’s something different than before, and I feel like I’m just starting. I want to keep working on that, as well as my technique,” Parker said. The classical Chinese dance competition is one in a series of international cultural and arts events aimed at promoting traditional culture. In China, this culture has been all but destroyed by the Chinese Communist Party over the past several decades. The events are hosted by NTD. Parker has danced all her life, and says things like technique and flexibility and muscle strength are important, but being able to express inner meaning is what makes a dancer an artist. “There’s …