Celebrated dance troupes from around the world have gathered in Urumqi for the second Xinjiang International Folk Dance Festival. The event will feature more than 70 dance performances, scattered around seven theaters in the region.

Dancers perform at the opening ceremony of the second China Xinjiang International Folk Dance Festival in Urumqi of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on July 20, 2011. The festival will continue until August 5. [Photo/Xinhua]

15 international dance troupes from Algeria, Botswana, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Russia, Spain, and Sri Lanka will present their repertory programs during the two-week festival. Of course, there will also be a huge presence of Chinese dance troupes at the festival, including the Hong Kong City Contemporary Dance Company, the New Century Culture and Arts Group from Taiwan, and the National Ballet of China.

The dance revelry featured a grand opening ceremony on the evening of July 20. The 90-minute gala consisted of four parts, namely Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, with each characterized by distinctive ethnic dances.

Dancers perform at the opening ceremony of the second China Xinjiang International Folk Dance Festival in Urumqi of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on July 20, 2011. The festival will continue until August 5. [Photo/Xinhua]

Dancers from both home and abroad have found the event a perfect opportunity to exchange views and skills.