STORY: Int'l dance festival on Silk Road promotes cultural exchanges
DATELINE: July 23, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:38
LOCATION: URUMQI, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE
 
SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP 1 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
2. various of the 6th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): MAHIRE EMET, Leading actress in dance drama "Zhang Qian"
4. various of the performance
5. STANDUP 2 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
6. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LI CHAO, Director of dance drama "A Dream of Red Mansions"
7. various of the performance
8. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): WANG YUNXIAO, Audience
9. various of the performance
10. STANDUP 3 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
 
STORYLINE:
STANDUP 1 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
"The 6th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival is currently underway in China's Urumqi. This year's festival is themed on 'Dreams of Dance, Harmony of Silk Road.'
In light of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, the festival underscores the Silk Road and aims to strengthen exchanges and cooperation among the Belt and Road countries and regions."
 
The festival attracted more than 1,000 artists from Asia, Europe and Africa. It will last for 17 days and stage 60 performances, covering art forms such as ballet, folk dance drama and musical drama.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): MAHIRE EMET, Leading actress in dance drama "Zhang Qian"
"Many excellent dance dramas from around the world will be staged in Xinjiang. As a participant, I will definitely watch some celebrated dramas from home and abroad after finishing my performance. This is a very precious opportunity for me to learn."
 
STANDUP 2 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
"Artistic troupes from 11 countries will present their performances. This will be the first time for all five Central Asian countries to gather on the stage of the festival since 2008."
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LI CHAO, Director of dance drama "A Dream of Red Mansions"
"All the artists involved were inspired by the original story of 'A Dream of Red Mansions.' We interpreted the classic in our own way. Meanwhile, we also restored some of the scenes described in the work, including its historical and cultural background."
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): WANG YUNXIAO, Audience
"I hope Urumqi can hold such kind of dance festival more often, and introduce more excellent dance dramas like 'Only Blue and Green,' 'A Dream of Red Mansions' and 'The Eternal Wave.' Xinjiang is a multi-ethnic autonomous region. Xinjiang's culture is diverse and inclusive. Through the platform of this dance festival, I hope Xinjiang's cultural and ethnic features can be known by more people in China and the world."
 
STANDUP 3 (English): YU JIAMING, Xinhua correspondent
"Apart from indoor dance dramas, the festival also includes a sideline event on street dance. I can almost feel the street dancers' electric vibe from here."
 
Launched in 2008, the festival's 6th edition is jointly hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Information Office of the State Council, and the Xinjiang regional people's government.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Urumqi, China.
(XHTV)