The National Ballet of China on Friday presented its first original ballet since the outbreak of COVID-19. The piece, which was infused with ethnic-Miao folk dance and costume, wowed the audience at the National Center for the Performing Arts on Friday night.

"Like Flowers" is the latest work of the National Ballet of China. It centers on a volunteer who went to an ethnic Miao village to help with poverty eradication efforts.

The production is the troupe's first attempt at blending Miao folk dance into a ballet performance. For the dancers, it was quite a new experience and challenge.

"Back in school, I learned some folk dances, but Miao folk dance, never! I thought it was less popular among ethnic dances. During the lockdown, choreographer Zhang Zhenxin sent us some videos, we learned the dance from the videos at home. At first, I even thought this wasn't Miao folk dance," Ma Xiaodong, principal dancer at the National Ballet of China told CGTN.

"I learned ethnic dance for about four years at school, so I was happy to try Miao folk dance. But it was difficult to grasp the essence of ethnic dance. For ballet, you need to keep your posture upright, but for Miao folk dance, you have to hold your body quite low," Fang Mengying, another troupe dancer said.  

Rehearsals and training began in early February, when most of the dancers had to learn and practice the movements at home due to the coronavirus. 

"I was deeply moved by the efforts our dancers made. Because it was difficult to learn through online courses, the video was always buffering and we need the music to be really fluent. They have to stare at the screen during the class, their concentration really touched me," said Feng Ying, director of the National Ballet of China.

In making the show, Chinese folk dance experts were also invited to give online courses. 

The National Ballet of China has been the country's leading ballet company since it was founded in the 1950s. Over the decades, the troupe has brought indigenous Chinese ballet performances to audiences all over the world.