The sixth China national dance contest will begin in Xiamen, a port city in east China's Fujian Province, on May 23.
Over 1,500 performers from across the country, as well as professional arts colleges and troupes affiliated to central government departments would compete in the 15-day contest, said Chen Jianwen with the Office for Major Artistic Affairs of the Cultural Bureau of Xiamen City.
Performers will compete under the categories of Chinese dance (folk dance, classical dance, modern dance and new dance), and ballet, either solo, in pairs, triples or groups, said Chen.
The contest will be jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Xiamen City Government and the Cultural Bureau of Fujian Province.
The first such contest was held in Beijing in 1980. Since 1995,the contest has been held every three years.