STORY: Int'l dance festival enchants audiences in China's Xinjiang
DATELINE: July 21, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:20
LOCATION: URUMQI, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE
 
SHOTLIST:
1. exterior of the Xinjiang People's Hall in Urumqi
2. STANDUP (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
3. various of the 6th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival
4. various of performance
5. SOUNDBITE 1 (Russian): SOFIA EFREMENKO, Russian dancer
6. SOUNDBITE 2 (Russian): SASHA KOZHOKAR, Russian dancer
7. various of performance
8. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): SONG BIBO, Audience member
9. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): SHI YUMENG, Audience member
10. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): MUNIRA, Audience member
11. various of the opening ceremony
 
STORYLINE:
 
STANDUP (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
"I'm now at the Xinjiang People's Hall in Urumqi, where the 6th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival officially kicked off on Thursday evening. The event will last 17 days, and dancers from 11 countries will stage dozens of performances in the city."
 
The festival, with a theme of "Dreams of Dance, Harmony of Silk Road," attracted more than 1,000 artists from Asia, Europe and Africa.
 
It has become a stage to boost cultural exchanges and deepen mutual understanding.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Russian): SOFIA EFREMENKO, Russian dancer
"My name is Sofia. I came to this festival from Russia. And I'm with a Russian folk dance troupe. I am very happy to participate in this event because it is a very large-scale dance festival in the city of Urumqi. It is simply amazing. I really like the movements done by Xinjiang folk dancers. It's incredible. I'd love to try it."
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Russian): SASHA KOZHOKAR, Russian dancer
"I like the local dancers' performance."
 
The performances cover art forms such as ballet, folk dance drama and musical drama.
 
Audiences at the opening ceremony have expressed expectations for more absorbing performances and more exchanges between local and international art forms.
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): SONG BIBO, Audience member
"I am most interested in the show of 'A Dream of Red Mansions,' because I like the work very much. I have read the book and watched the 1987 version of TV series, and I'm very much looking forward to the stage show of it."
 
SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): SHI YUMENG, Audience member
"I think the culture in Xinjiang is very diverse, and I hope that Xinjiang's dance can be showcased on a bigger stage so that diverse cultures from other places and the culture in Xinjiang can be better connected."
 
SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): MUNIRA, Audience member
"I think after international artists come to Xinjiang, they will better understand the culture here. I think the festival is a perfect stage to showcase what we have in Xinjiang, and it's also an opportunity to showcase our Xinjiang people's hospitality and our good inheritance of traditional culture."
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Urumqi, China.
(XHTV)