April 25 to 28, grading for the 13th Lotus Award for Chinese Classical Dance, top in Chinese dancing, will be held in Shenyang, Liaoning. A total of 47 dances will be performed in Liaoning Grand Theater. With 7 classical dances in the finalist, Liaoning becomes one with the most shortlisted works. The 7 works are Music Playing, Flowers Bloom, Travel East, Living in the Central, The Life of Li Qingzhao, Flowers-wearing Maids, and Dragon and Phoenix.

Many Liaoning dances, including Two Springs Reflecting the Moon, Shadow of Fencing Walls and Bride Nisu, have been selected since the launch of Lotus Award. For years, Liaoning dancers have trained themselves all the time to become more excellent. They have created many splendid works, made many Liaoning dances seen and admired by audience, showing the power of creation.

The works of Liaoning in the finalist show the richness of classical dance creation in themes. Among them, the group dance Music Playing, shown on CCTV, originates from the mural in the Liao Dynasty. When 17 performers are dancing to melodious music on stage, a vivid ancient painting is unfolded before audience, bringing them to the important celebration in the heyday of the Liao Dynasty.

Lotus Award, approved by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, was set as an national professional award of dancing art in 1998. Five categories including classical dance, national folk dance, modern dance, contemporary dance and drama dance will be voted every other year. The prize is set to award excellent dancing works, encourage outstanding dance creators and performers, activate dancing theories and comments, and promote the healthy development of dancing art sector in China.