Lotus dance awards ceremony highlights creativity

The Lotus Award Ethnic and Folk dance section closed on Thursday in Guiyang, Guizhou province, as six gold awards were presented.

"The Golden Pattra" of the Dai ethnic group, a work that honors their beliefs, won the main prize in the solo dance category.

Group awards went to a dance by the Mulao ethnic group that highlights the tenderness of motherly love, a remake of the Ren Ge dance "the Mountain Sun", a Dai ethnic dance "Arhats", a Mongolian dance "Gobi Desert" and an Uygur dance in celebration of Kunlun Mountains.

Thirty-one silver and bronze awards were also presented.

"It's hard to sustain the essence of folk dance in today's society," Feng Shuangbai, vice-president of the China Dancers Association said at the closing ceremony. "But we've seen truly moving and creative work this year."

The biennial Lotus Award represents the country's top honor in the field. More than 280 dance numbers entered this year.