The opening ceremony of the first Xiamen International Ballet Competition, July 30. [Photo/fjsen.com]

The first Xiamen International Ballet Competition, supported by UNESCO, opened in Xiamen in Fujian province on July 30.

The jury for the competition consists of 11 world-renowned figures in the field of ballet from Russia, the United States, South Korea, Japan, Poland, and Belgium, among others.

Sergei Usanov, vice-president of the International Choreography Union and a member of the competition's jury, addressed the opening ceremony. "I am very happy to be in Xiamen, with all its splendid greenery. I hope this event can bring the city some good publicity," He said.

Another judge, Feng Ying, head of the National Ballet of China, said: "China has had 11 ballet troupes, which means that China ballet will have a more professional artistic platform. I hope that there will be more excellent ballet troupes in Xiamen in the future."

The event also includes academic forums and master classes which aim to promote the exchange and development of ballet education and talent training across the world.

More than 100 ballet dancers from nearly 20 countries and regions participated in the competition.