Modern ethnic poetic dance An impression of Yunnan and historical dance drama Farewell, My Concubine came away the biggest winners at this year's Lotus Awards, the country's highest dance honor. The winners were chosen after nine days of competition in Shanghai.

Created and performed by famous dancer Yang Liping, An Impression of Yunnan took the Golden Award in the Poetic Dance Category. It also won the Bai ethnic artist the Best Actress and Best Choreographer Awards.

Presented by Shanghai Oriental Youth Dance Troupe, the historical piece Farewell, My Concubine captured the Golden Award in the Dance Drama Category and the Best Actor Award. Set some 2,200 years ago, the story of the tragic love between imperial warlord Xiang Yu and his favorite concubine has long been a source of artistic inspiration.

Ethnic dances have always been the backbone of China's dance art. And this year was no exception. With a total population of only 30,000, the Pumi ethnic group presented a grand piece Mother River, which scooped the Silver Award in the Poetic Dance Category. And dance drama Eji from Inner Mongolia took the Best Actress Award in the Dance Drama Category.

The last three years have witnessed a creative boom in China's dance art. Over 50 new dance dramas and poetic dances have been created, compared with a total of only 100 pieces from 1985 to 2000.

(CCTV.com March 10, 2004)