Dancing on a changing stage: the Australian ballet to embark on ninth China visit

During his learning he also found Australian teachers different from the Chinese. "Chinese teachers tend to be stricter with our movements, but the Australian teachers emphasize emotion more."

After two years of hard work, he joined in the Australian Ballet. "For most of the time I dance in the corps de ballet," he said. "Now I am just beginning to do solo. For example, in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland I danced the fish and the gardener."

During his China tour, Xu will be dancing in both Sleeping Beauty and Giselle.

"My father will be watching in Shanghai or Nanjing, while my mom will be with me from beginning to the end," he said. "They had never seen me dancing after I graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy."

Talking about his future, Xu said his dream was to be a principal dancer. "I would like to learn choreography as well," he said. "When I have chance to choreograph, I could add some Chinese elements."