STORY: Int'l dancers amazed by cultural atmosphere in China's Xinjiang
DATELINE: July 22, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:20
LOCATION: URUMQI, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE
 
SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
2. various of the 6th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Russian): NADEZHDA BORISOVNA MAKEEVA, Russian dance drama director
4. various of the 6th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Russian): SOFIA EFREMENKO, Russian dancer
6. various of the 6th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Russian): KNAS AIZHAN, Kazakh dancer
8. SOUNDBITE 4 (Kazakh): AIZHAN IBRAEVA, Kazakh dancer
 
STORYLINE:
 
STANDUP (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
"An international dance festival is currently underway in Urumqi in China's Xinjiang. The 6th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival has attracted more than 1,000 artists from Asia, Europe and Africa."
 
The opening ceremony was named "Zhang Qian," in honor of one of ancient China's official diplomats who played a pivotal role in acquiring valuable information about Central Asia. His expedition laid the cornerstone for what would later be known as the "Silk Road."
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Russian): NADEZHDA BORISOVNA MAKEEVA, Russian dance drama director
"(The opening ceremony was) very interesting, fascinating. You know what I'm talking about. I understand the whole story of Zhang Qian. I admire this man and admire the play's setting in general."
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Russian): SOFIA EFREMENKO, Russian dancer
"When I saw the performance about the envoy who blazed the Silk Road at the opening ceremony, somehow I understood everything. Everything was very readable and insanely beautiful, including the costumes, the setting and the work of the choreographers."
 
The festival, with the theme of "Dreams of Dance, Harmony of Silk Road," has attracted artists to Urumqi to showcase their dances in an international arena, and also to experience the cultural atmosphere here.
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (Russian): KNAS AIZHAN, Kazakh dancer
"Urumqi is beautiful and the infrastructure here is very impressive. There are a lot of people here. The food here is very spicy, and I admit spicy food is unusual in my country. And the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar is very cool."
 
SOUNDBITE 4 (Kazakh): AIZHAN IBRAEVA, Kazakh dancer
"The people in Urumqi are hospitable, and the food is good. When I first arrived here, I wasn't prepared for the spicy food here, but now I'm getting used to it. And I think the city is developing rapidly.
After coming to this festival, I learned a lot. I have exchanged experience with dancers from China and other countries and benefited a lot."
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Urumqi, China.
(XHTV)