The 5th "Pointe to Point" Asia-Europe Dance Forum opened in Beijing on November 14.

Leaders from the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Chinese Dance Sport Federation and Asia-Europe Foundation, as well as dance directors from 16 countries around the world, attended the opening ceremony.

It is the first time that the program has been held in China.

The Chinese Dance Sport Federation and Asia-Europe Foundation have jointly organized the 5th "Pointe to Point"; it focuses on tradition and modernity, cities and countries, dance and music.

Artists from all around the world are heading to Miao ethnic group villages in China's southwest Guizhou Province to investigate local folk customs. They will also celebrate the Miao New Year with the villagers in order to learn more about their traditional dances and music.

Then the artists will collaborate to combine their experiences in Guizhou Province into a performance that will be given at the end of the conference.

"Pointe to Point" is an exchange program for dancing organized by the Asia-Europe Foundation and it is held every year. The program aims to provide a platform for outstanding dancers from Asia and Europe to air their ideas about modern society and promote artistic exchange among each other.

"Pointe to Point" has double meanings. "Pointe" is a French word signifying "toe" and looks like the English word "point"; thus, one meaning of the "Pointe to Point" is dance, while the other metaphorically suggests "from one continent to another", which also indicates "communication".

(China.org.cn, by Yang Xi, November 16, 2007)