Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

THE hit Shenzhen dance drama “Wing Chun,” which has broken records for a Chinese production on overseas tours, will make its North American debut in Toronto this week.

The show will run at the city’s Meridian Hall for three weeks from Dec. 16, 2025 to Jan. 4, 2026. The Toronto stop will mark the show’s 300th performance globally.

Having previously toured Singapore, the U.K., France, and Russia, “Wing Chun” has set a new benchmark for overseas commercial performances by a Chinese dance drama, achieving both strong ticket sales and critical acclaim.

Preparations are underway in Toronto, with the stage design and technical team already on site building the set. A widespread advertising campaign has launched across the city’s downtown core, featuring promotions in cinemas, on public transit, and on major digital billboards.

In Toronto, the production is gaining traction across mainstream media. Toronto.com, blogTO, NOW Toronto, and Fairchild Radio have all featured the upcoming residency. The Canadian lifestyle magazine NEXT also recently interviewed members of the cast.

The production was highlighted by the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto during a recent “Happy Chinese New Year” event for community leaders Dec. 6, local time.

The drama, performed by the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theater, is co-directed and choreographed by Han Zhen and Zhou Liya, known as the “Twin Stars” of Chinese dance. It integrates Wing Chun — a close-combat martial art classified as a national intangible cultural heritage — with tai chi, baguazhang and other disciplines, expressed through classical and modern dance.

A distinctive feature of the production is the use of xiangyunsha, also known as gambiered Canton gauze, a prized Lingnan fabric also recognized as an intangible cultural heritage. It is a rare silk fabric dyed exclusively with plant and mineral pigments that has a subtle luster under stage lighting.

The North American premiere is jointly presented by TO Live, digital marketing agency Adem, and the Canada-China Cultural Development Association, building on a decade-long sister-city partnership between Shenzhen and Toronto.

Since its 2022 debut, “Wing Chun” has performed to sold-out audiences in over 280 shows worldwide.