WUHAN — Drumbeats echo through a university gymnasium in Central China as a brightly colored dragon surges, dips, and coils, its body rippling in perfect rhythm.

At the front, guiding the dragon with a pearl, is Miguel de Oliveira Manacero, a 24-year-old Brazilian graduate student known in China as Ma Feilong.

In mid-April, he will return to Brazil with a university delegation for a five-city cultural exchange tour, where the dragon dance will be among the featured activities.

"I look forward to showing people back home how this Chinese dragon comes alive," he says. "It carries wishes for happiness and good fortune."

His journey mirrors a broader moment of cultural exchange. China and Brazil have designated 2026 as the China-Brazil Year of Culture, with activities spanning performances, visual arts, music, heritage and tourism.

Hailing from Sao Paulo state, Manacero first encountered Chinese culture through martial arts. He began training at 10, later joining Brazil's national team and winning a world championship at 16.

Curiosity, rather than competition, deepened his connection. In 2019, he arrived at Hubei University for a short-term exchange.

"That's when I discovered dragon dance," he says. "I decided to stay."

At the university, traditions such as dragon boat racing, dragon and lion dances, and calligraphy are part of campus life. Through them, Manacero has come to understand the deeper meaning behind his performances.

In Western folklore, dragons are often seen as destructive. In China, however, the loong, or Chinese dragon, tells a very different story.

"The loong symbolizes good fortune and people's hopes for a better life," he says.

Dragon dance, often performed during festivals, weddings and celebrations, is believed to bring luck, ward off misfortune, and pray for favorable weather and harvests.

Even his Chinese name reflects that connection. "Feilong," meaning "flying dragon", feels fitting as he carries the tradition across cultures.

Unlike solo martial arts, dragon dance is a collective art. A typical performance involves nine performers, guided by one at the head. Every movement depends on timing and trust.

He compares the motion to a bus passing over a speed bump: a small lift at the front builds into a stronger wave toward the tail. As the dragon accelerates, each performer must respond with increasing strength and precision.

Since his senior year as an undergraduate, he has taken on coaching responsibilities. Today, he leads the university's dragon dance team, guiding it to top finishes in national competitions.

His personal story unfolds alongside broader ties between China and Latin America.

Data from the General Administration of Customs showed that China-Latin America trade value reached 3.93 trillion yuan ($572 billion) in 2025, growing by 6.5 percent year-on-year.

For Manacero, the most meaningful exchanges happen far beyond trade figures.

He has already brought dragon and lion dance performances to Sao Paulo and Brasilia in 2023, where audiences responded with enthusiasm.

"People in Brazil are very open to Chinese culture," he says. "When they see the dragon dance, they get really excited. It's a two-way connection."

With about a year and a half left in his studies, he is still considering his next step. Whether he stays in China or returns to Brazil, his goal is clear: to keep the dragon moving between cultures.

"Martial arts helped me understand China. Dragon dance made me fall in love with it," he says.