Silk Road Ballet Blooms in Citong
On April 20, the press conference for the 2025 WBGP World Ballet Grand Prix (Quanzhou, China) and the 2nd XIBC Xiamen International Ballet Competition (WBGP and XIBC) was successfully held at Yannian Mountain Resort in Quanzhou. This internationally renowned event, which blends Maritime Silk Road culture with Western art, will take place this July in Quanzhou. Hundreds of ballet dancers from countries around the world are expected to gather in Quanzhou to engage in an artistic dialogue through the language of pointe.
Distinguished guests in attendance included Mr. Chen Jianmin, Director of the WBGP and XIBC Organizing Committee; Prof. Li Na, Artistic Director of the WBGP and XIBC, President of the Fujian Ballet Association, Vice President of the Fujian Dancers Association, and Professor at Xiamen University; Ms. Chen Yichao, Vice President of the Fujian Ballet Association and Dance Instructor at Xiamen University Tan Kah Kee College; Ms. Chen Guifeng, General Manager of Yannian Mountain Resort; Mr. Cai Guowei, President of the Malagasy Chinese Business Association and the Fujian Business Association in France; Mr. Yang Jiasen, Deputy Director of the Fengze District Cultural Center; Mr. Cai Maoqing, Vice President of the Fujian International Ballroom Dance Association; Mr. Zhang Yulong, Honorary President and Executive Secretary-General of the Jiangxi Chamber of Commerce in Quanzhou and Deputy Leader of the Quanzhou Branch of the Chinese Veterans Choir; Ms. Guo Yue, Founder of the Xiamen Hualei Arts Center; and Ms. Zhong Huimin, Founder of Grace Ballet Quanzhou. The press conference was hosted by Mr. Allen, General Manager of Aishang Ballet Art (Quanzhou) Training , one of the event’s co-organizers.
Bridging Civilizations Through Ballet
Mr. Chen Jianmin, Director of the Organizing Committee, has long been devoted to the pursuit of artistic excellence. He believes that ballet, as a high art form that integrates aesthetics, technical skill, and expressive power, holds great value in cultural exchange. Following Fujian native Ou Rui’s gold medal victory at a world ballet competition in 2017, ballet culture rapidly gained popularity across the province. In 2019, the Fujian Ballet Association—the first of its kind named after ballet—was officially established.
In 2018, with the support of UNESCO, the International Ballet Competition Federation, and the Asian Ballet Competition Association, Mr. Chen introduced international ballet competitions to China. The inaugural XIBC was held successfully in Xiamen in 2019. As Chairman of that event, he not only witnessed exceptional performances by dancers from around the world but also the remarkable transformation of Chinese winners who flourished both on and off stage. Thanks to his efforts, the second XIBC and the first WBGP in China will be held concurrently this July. Mr. Chen hopes to promote ballet education and development in China through the platform of competition, providing young dancers with an international stage to showcase their talents.
As a native of Quanzhou, Mr. Chen is also committed to fostering deeper cultural dialogue between the Maritime Silk Road heritage and international arts. His vision—Silk Road Ballet, Blooming in Citong—reflects the very heart of his efforts to bring this world-class event to the historic city of Quanzhou.
Fostering Growth Through Professional Evaluation
Professor Li Na, Artistic Director of the competitions and an experienced international ballet judge, emphasized the importance of creating a globally influential ballet platform. She aims to focus on education and talent cultivation while fostering dialogue and cooperation among emerging ballet artists worldwide. The WBGP and XIBC have assembled a panel of esteemed ballet artists and educators who will uphold rigorous evaluation standards and insightful artistic perspectives, ensuring a fair and inspiring platform for rising ballet stars.
Crafting Excellence Through Precision
Ms. Chen Yichao, Vice President of the Fujian Ballet Association, provided detailed information on the competition's structure, including the schedule, event categories, age divisions, awards, and prize distribution. The event will be held from July 17 to 20 in Quanzhou. It will adopt a dual-event model, with the WBGP making its China debut and running alongside the XIBC, combining both competition and performance elements.
The event will feature solos, duets, ensemble, and group performances across seven age divisions. With a comprehensive structure encompassing education, competition, and showcase modules, the competition emphasizes both technical ability and stage presence, creating a holistic platform for competition, growth, and exchange.
Soaring with Culture, Empowering Urban Development
As a representative of the event’s co-organizers, Ms. Chen Guifeng, General Manager of Yannian Villa, shared that the venue will provide an artistically immersive environment for the participants. The organizing team is dedicated to ensuring smooth execution of the event and a memorable experience for every performer and attendee. She noted that hosting the event in Quanzhou not only infuses the city with artistic energy but also introduces global cultural resources.
A special cultural initiative—the “World Heritage Quanzhou” cultural tourism integration project—has been launched, in which participants will visit iconic heritage sites such as Kaiyuan Temple and Fupu Village. These visits will inspire ballet-based reinterpretations of intangible heritage, bridging tradition and innovation through performance. With this innovative “World Heritage + Ballet” model, Quanzhou is using culture as a bridge to connect with the world through the Silk Road of the arts.
Opening Doors of Opportunity Through the Window of Art
During the Q&A session, media representatives raised questions about the competition’s professionalism, international influence, and impact on the host city. Organizers and co-organizers responded that the competition will not only promote the popularity of ballet across China but also enhance Quanzhou’s global cultural profile, providing a high-quality platform for international exchange, performance, and talent development.
In closing, host Allen officially announced the opening of the registration portal and warmly invited ballet enthusiasts from around the globe to gather in Quanzhou this summer to witness a spectacular feast of ballet at its finest.
Exploring Diverse Perspectives Through Interviews
As the press conference concluded, journalists conducted interviews with key attendees, capturing a range of insights and voices that reflect the event’s multifaceted cultural vision.
Mr. Yang Jiasen
Deputy Director of the Fengze District Cultural Center
This international ballet competition, taking place in Fengze, will leverage its global influence to enhance the international visibility of the Fengze cultural and tourism brand. At the same time, we are launching a special “Ballet Art Tour” route to attract visitors through the event, inviting both spectators and participants to explore Fengze—the hometown of the traditional flower hairpin culture.
Mr. Cai Guowei
President of the Malagasy Chinese Business Association and the Fujian Business Association in France
From a business perspective, the competition draws global attention to the development of Haixi culture in Quanzhou, boosting the growth of local industries such as tourism, dining, and hospitality, while also creating collaboration opportunities for domestic and international enterprises.
We really like the fercility, here is one of the best in the world that we saw so far, and we really enjoy the place, the people, and yes very warm and hospitality.
Ms. Guo Yue
Founder of the Xiamen Hualei Arts Center
We hope that our students can gain valuable experience and broaden their horizons by participating in high-level competitions. Such international events not only serve as a platform to evaluate teaching outcomes, but also offer professional artistic inspiration for young people, igniting their passion for ballet.
