Photo taken on July 22, 2025 shows "Textile Workers" Folk Ensemble from Turkmenistan presents a splendid cultural feast for the audience in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Nurxat Nijat)

On July 22, 2025, the Karamay Mass Art Center came alive as 12 women in traditional attire and 12 young men performed a spirited dance together. Their vibrant Turkmen costumes resembled a moving Silk Road tapestry, while their precise footwork and stirring melodies marked the opening of the festival's Karamay sub-venue.

Leader of the "Textile Workers" Folk Ensemble from Turkmenistan, Nurmuhamedova Annajemal, said that art connects souls and that this performance not only shares their cultural heritage but also deepens the bond between their peoples.

Highlights of the festival included the Milano Ballet from Italy blending Spanish passion with modern ballet in Carmen, the U.S. based José Limón Dance Company celebrating cultural diversity through contemporary movement, Cambodia's Royal Ballet reviving ancient court dances, and Central Asian troupes infusing melodies with the spirit of the steppe. Together, these artists delivered a cross-cultural feast for Xinjiang audiences.

File photo shows performance scene of the dance drama “Far Away, Right Here.”

Beyond the stage, the festival offered artists a chance to explore Xinjiang. They visited landmarks, tasted local cuisine, and engaged with intangible cultural heritage. They danced with residents, experiencing the region's multicultural charm firsthand. Yu Jie, deputy director of the culture and tourism department in Xinjiang, stated that the Dance Festival has seen a growing scope of cultural and people-to-people exchanges. More and more people have come to understand each other and build heart-to-heart friendships, with such connections reaching a wider range.

At the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar in Urumqi City, "Romeo" and "Juliet" from Italy's Milano Ballet ran into Xinjiang dancer "Alamuhan." They sang and danced as they went, happily making their way to the central stage of the bazaar... On July 22, 2025, a special "flash mob" took place at a supporting event of the 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival. Francis Ray Morgan, an Italian actor said that they don't speak the same language, but dance lets their hearts connect.

Kazakhstan's Korkyt Ensemble brought the energetic Kara Jorha. Leader of the Ensemble, Korganbek Sholpan noted that this festival lets diverse dance styles inspire each other, breathing new life into traditions, and that they hope art strengthens ties between nations.

Mayire Ametjan, a local dancer who has performed in six editions of the festival, shared, "Each year brings fresh inspiration. I've seen it grow from a local event into a global platform."

Meanwhile, Xinjiang's troupes have toured internationally with productions like "Lift your veil—Xinjiang is a good place," introducing the "Land of Song and Dance" to over 20 countries.

"We're expanding Xinjiang's artistic footprint worldwide," said Cai Xiaorong of the Xinjiang Art Theater. "Over 17 years, this festival has united 130 troupes, building bridges for cultural dialogue and painting a brighter future for shared civilization."

(A written permission shall be obtained for reprinting, excerpting, copying and mirroring of the contents published on this website. Unauthorized aforementioned act shall be deemed an infringement, of which the actor shall be held accountable under the law.)