Chinese Dancer Barred from Leaving China to Compete

For the first time, the preliminary competition will be held in Hong Kong. This would have made it easier for dancers from Mainland China to participate. Last week though, NTD’s bureau in Hong Kong lost contact with two mainland competitors. One of their relatives in Hong Kong says Chinese state security officials are behind this. 

 

[Family of International Classical Chinese Dance Competitor]:

“They asked him how he found out about the competition and why he joined. The whole family was questioned, and asked to write a repentance letter. He’s been barred from going overseas for a year. Now he has to change his phone number and all other contact details. Basically he can’t come to Hong Kong, they won’t let him leave.”

 

The Director of NTD’s International Competition Series, Lijuan Ma, says harassment like this has been ongoing. 

 

 [Lijuan Ma, Director, NTD's International Competition Series]: 

“A lot of artists were hoping to go overseas to showcase and promote what they have learned. We came into contact with many of these mainland competitors. But the Chinese Communist Party is stopping them from coming; harassing and threatening them.”

 

Ma believes theses attempts by the Chinese regime to sabotage the competition could backfire.

 

[Lijuan Ma, Director, NTD's International Competition Series]:

“What use will this serve? More people will see the true face [of the CCP] and what they’re doing. Also, these tactics will only serve as an advertisement for NTD and the International Classical Dance competition among professional dancers in China.”

 

In June, NTD found out that the Chinese regime’s security apparatus sent out notices to all dance schools and organizations around the country, forbidding them from allowing their dancers to compete.

 

The Asia Pacific round of the dance competition will take place in Hong Kong on August 18th.