Elise Anderson --An American Xinjiang Idol

Ten years ago, Elise, an American college student, had no idea that the Uyghur people even existed in this world. Now, she is almost one of them. She speaks their language and lives like the locals. In Xinjiang, she recently participated in a televised singing competition, the results of which surprised both her and the captive audience. Meanwhile, she is conducting her research on the Uyghur performing arts, in the hopes to introduce them to more people in the West.

Elise Anderson became a local celebrity because of her passion for the Uyghur performing arts.[Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]