A talented six-year-old “experienced dancer” from Xinjiang-TIANSHANNET-天山网

Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Liu Mengmeng) news: On the evening of April 9, 2024, a little girl from Xinjiang wearing a pink Atlas silk dress impressed the audience with her light and lively dancing and warm smile at the Majestic Theatre in Shanghai, China.

Photo shows the performance "Silk Road · East" , which combined urban light music with Xinjiang Uygur Muqam, performed by the Twelve Muqam Singing and Dancing Troupe from Yarkant County, Kashi Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Gulnazi participated in the performance. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Gulnazi was recognized by the audience as the girl who went viral on the internet because she danced at the Urumqi Diwopu International Airport a few days ago. On April 6, 2024, wearing sportswear, Gulinazi danced to the rhythm of the music, attracting many tourists at the airport who took out their mobile phones to record this enchanting moment.

She looks nothing different from other six-year-old children, but as soon as the music rings, it seems that she is taken over by a different personality. With the cheering rhythm of Meshrep music, she moves her neck, shakes her shoulders, and turns in circles, being full of confidence with every dancing move.

"We followed the Twelve Muqam Singing and Dancing Troupe of Yarkant County to Shanghai to perform at the day. We planned to practice the repertoire since there were some time before boarding, but didn’t expect she would dance with us by the side, attracting a lot of people to watch," said Munira Abdurexit, Gulnazi's mother.

Although it was an extempore dance, she showed an extraordinary talent, and gained a lot of compliments on the internet, such as “This proves that children in Xinjiang can dance as long as they can walk,” “These kids must be born this way,” “She made the whole departure lounge her stage,” etc.

The performance also attracted a lot of interviews and reports, and became a hot topic on social media. When she was interviewed, she raised her head and said with a straight face, “I’m six years old, and I’m an experienced dancer.” Her innocent words amused the reporters.

Photo shows Gulnazi. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

There is no doubt that she is experienced. Her parents and grandfather have been in the troupe for many years. The father and grandfather play the flute, and the mother dances. When she was one year old, her parents often brought her to the training room. “When we were at rehearsals, she watched us by side and neither cried nor made any trouble, but danced instead.” Her father Alimujan Abulimit said that when she was two or three years old, she noticed that she could imitate many dancing moves, looked a little bit immature, though, she had that “dancer’s vibe.”

Being influenced by her surroundings, Gulnazi has learned more kinds of dance. "Now she can dance not only Meshrep but also Tajik dance, modern dance, classical dance, etc.," said Munira.

Because of her good dancing and contagious performance, Gulnazi has performed with experienced performers in the troupe since she was very little. In 2020, at the opening ceremony of the Badam Blossom Festival in Yarkant County, she made her debut at the age of three, dancing a piece of Meshrep.

From April 8 to 9, 2024, the Shanghai Light Music Troupe and Yarkant County Twelve Muqam Song and Dance Troupe presented the performance "Silk Road · East" combined urban light music with Xinjiang Uygur Muqam at the Majestic Theatre in Shanghai, in which Gulnazi participated in Uzhal Muqam segment themed "Happy Festival", a part of the Twelve Muqam. "Uzhal Muqam is quite long, and we have rearranged it to keep the best six minutes, including one minute and 30 seconds of a solo dance specially designed for Gulnazi, which is completely impromptu. Even though she is only six years old, the stage performance is very powerful,” said Yu Ting, deputy head of the Yarkant County Twelve Muqam Singing and Dancing Troupe.

In the eye of Abulimit Usan, her grandfather, she likes dancing and is talented, which is endowed by the life in Xinjiang, the “Home of Singing and Dancing.” “Whether it's in squares or parks, people dance as soon as joyful music rings. For people living in Xinjiang, dancing is not only a form of artistic performance, but also an emotional outlet for releasing their joy, forthright, hospitality and friendliness, all the good things can be transmitted through dancing."

At the sub-venue in Kashi City of the 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, actress Dilraba Dilmurat’s dancing went viral on the internet. After seeing the performance, she suddenly said to her mother in a straight face, "I want to grow up quickly, and in the future, I want to dance beautifully like sister Dilraba, so that everyone knows Xinjiang!" Hearing that, Munira was very happy, "I hope that my daughter's dancing can be a key, so that people can come to Xinjiang and fall in love with this land."