Chinese troupe shows softer side of SCO

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan: Dong Qian is 15. Traveling for the first time to a foreign land, she feels both excited and nervous. Among the audience of her first overseas performance tonight will be 10 heads of states and senior ministers and officials of other countries and organizations.

"I feel a little bit nervous, but we have the dance in our mind. I hope viewers will like our program and I am expecting a big applause," said Dong, who is the youngest performer in her troupe.

The dance performance, Misty Rain in Southern China, will make its overseas debut at the cultural gala during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek. "We will get only 6 minutes on stage," said Deng Jingshan, head of the 41-strong Chinese cultural team comprising Hangzhou Song & Dance Troupe and Zhejiang Arobatic Troupe. The team was selected from among hundreds of candidates.