In China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a grand show featuring more than 300 international dancers is attracting quite a crowd. It’s called “Back to the Silk Road.” 

The production takes place at the Changji Grand Theater close to Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang. It highlights various customs along the ancient route, and aims to bring different cultures closer together.

The show begins with a Persian dance led by a girl named Anastasiia from Ukraine.

When not on stage, Anastasiia prepares for each performance the same way. She’s been with the troupe for over a year and a half.

She said that there are altogether six chapters in the show, and after viewing them, people would get a general idea of what the ancient Silk Road really is, and the theme of connection and coming together.

Anastasiia rehearses with her Chinese colleagues. She now understands what they’re saying and expressing, but things were different at the beginning.

For her, the first six months were difficult. She had to communicate through interpreters with dancers from countries like Georgia, Russia and China.

Gradually, things improved and little was lost in translation.

Chinese performer Buhalima said she had been learning Anastasiia’s language, and tried to use it to help them learn Chinese dance movements, and vice versa.

And yet, the best way for them to communicate is by dancing and sharing. These international dancers go through the exact same routine every time before they go on stage. And through such commitment and communication, they hope to achieve perfect coordination.

The show has become well known in Xinjiang, with more than 500 performances for audiences from China and abroad in less than two years. One of its designers says that culture has no boundaries.

Gulbahar, the choreographer for “Back to the Silk Road,” said that through this event, these international dancers had received an understanding of China and the Chinese, and they would bring it back to their homes, improving the friendly exchanges between each other.

She said that the tradition of the ancient Silk Road had been continuing not only in business but also in culture. With these popular performances, those traditions are set to continue long into the future.