Prince Charming personified

By YIP YOKE TENG

ABUDUJIELILI Abudukeremu is a Prince Charming both on stage and off. Tall, handsome and brawny, with a cute smile to boot, the 21-year-old looks a movie star from every angle.  

It is no wonder that he was selected to play the role of a prince in “Na Zi Er Gong Mu”, the last act of Mystical Steppes: Along the Silk Road, a dance extravaganza showcasing the rich cultures of Xinjiang's various minority groups.  

Depicting celebration and merriment, the scene involved many dancers but Abudujielili stood out from the others. 

However, the Uyghur seems to be blissfully unaware of his good looks. Asked why he thought he was chosen to be the “prince”, he answered shyly: “I don't know.”  

Hold that pose: Abudujielili (right) capturing an interesting scene in Genting.

“But I am really happy about it. It is a hilarious character, I like it a lot,” said Abudujielili, who joined the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar Theatre Dance Troupe two years ago.  

Abudujielili also performed in six other acts, including the “Big Hat Dance” and “Five Colourful Shoes”. He was required to do dance movements that were extra physically taxing, such as shaking his head for seven minutes non-stop in “Big Hat Dance” and picking up a flower from the floor in his mouth, while keeping his hands off the ground, in “Na Zi Er Gong Mu”.  

In addition to daily intense practice, he had on own initiative, been experimenting in front of a mirror to perfect his facial expressions.  

“I am enjoying it,” he declared happily. “I have loved the performing arts since I was very young. No one in my family was into the arts then, but strangely, I would shake my body whenever there was music.”  

The recent working trip to Malaysia was an inspiring experience to him.  

“I want to work even harder to become a good dancer and perform all over the world,” he said.