SIX dance pieces selected by the Shenzhen Federation of Literary and Art Circles (SZFLAC) claimed 20 awards at the Second Chinese Festival of Dance & the Fifth Chinese Dance Lotus Awards held in Kunming, Yunnan Province on Nov. 22, making Shenzhen one of the biggest winners.

The Lotus awards are the biggest honors given out for dance in China. About 2,000 choreographers, directors and dancers participated in this competition.

The works representing Shenzhen included "Against the Moon" performed by Shenzhen Dance Association, "Being Alone" and "The Oriental Beauty" performed by China Folk Culture Villages, "She" by the Culture Center of Yantian District, "Oil Boy" by the Culture Center of Futian District, and the Shenzhen Art School's "Daughter's Tears."

"Being Alone," "Against the Moon," "She," "Oil Boy" and "Daughter's Tears" won gold medals at the dance festival.

Shenzhen also won five bronze medals, including three master piece awards and two performing awards.

Qiu Hongrong, the choreographer of "Being Alone," won The Star of Lotus award. The 18-year-old Zhao Xuan, who directed and choreographed "Against the Moon," was selected among the 10 best choreographers at the festival.

Yao Feng, managing vice president of the SZFLAC, was at the Shenzhen airport to welcome the dancers. "The dancing circles in Shenzhen has made rapid progress in recent years," he said. "It's the first time for Shenzhen to win so many awards in the biggest and the most important dance competition."

The next Chinese Festival of Dance will be held in Shanghai in 2006.

Editor: Wing