Hearing no impairment to deaf dancer from Jilin

"I'm able to better understand people by reading lips with its help," he said. "I have learned how to adjust it depending on different environments."

In the summer of 2008, Zhan watched a dance presentation of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva) staged by the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe at the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games on TV.

"The dance was beautifully performed, and I was moved by their extraordinary skill and strength," he said. "I dreamed of becoming a dancer like them."

He began to watch videos of performances and competitions and learned to imitate the movements.

After graduating from primary school in 2015, Zhan passed the entrance exam for the troupe and began to learn dance with the other members.

"From the day I joined, I told myself to work hard to become an accomplished performer like these dancers who showed the whole world their great skill," he said. "I really like dancing, and the applause after a performance makes me very happy."

Zhan said that it was difficult at first, as he was not able to understand the rhythms.

"To help me keep up, my teacher repeatedly played the drum and told me where the heavy beats, light beats and rhythm points were," he said. "Then the teacher guided us using sign language. After repeated practice of a piece, I was able to familiarize myself with it."