This is the dramatic moment dancers were almost burned during a fire show that went wrong in China.

Two female performers had the bottoms of their dresses set alight during the performance during the 5th anniversary celebration of Wuyue Plaza in Kunming, Yunnan.

Footage shows the entertainers dressed in red, extending their arms and spinning on stage as the amazed crowd cheered on September 20.

Moments later, both women sprinted out of the performance area, screaming from the heat.

One managed to remove her skirt, while the other was unable to do so as the fire had already reached above her knees.

Crew members quickly doused the flames with a fire extinguisher, sending plumes of smoke billowing across the stage.

The victims reportedly did not sustain burns or any life-threatening injuries.

An onlooker said: 'I stood in the front row with my baby, and when they first squatted and lit the fire, I felt unsafe. I told my son it was too dangerous, but then I heard a scream. The young lady on the right ran toward me, and I quickly moved my family backwards.'

Another witness recalled that a staff member applied ice cubes to ease one performer's pain but criticised the team's lack of preparedness.

He said: 'The crew is still inexperienced, not professional enough. There were no emergency measures, and the performers are very young.

'Medical attention should have been immediate to prevent lasting scars, yet the woman remained seated, crying for over ten minutes after the incident.'