Deshbek Yiblay sings a stanza of epic Manas on May 18 in Wuxi Great Hall of the People. [Photo by Qin Yan provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Deshbek Yiblay sang a stanza of epic Manas in the beginning of Act three.

In Aheqi, folk singers like Deshbek are called as Aken. Deshbek cannot speak any mandarin and an interpreter was invited to help communication between him and other staff.

Singers of the epic of Manas are called manasch. The late Jusupo Mamayi, once honored as “l(fā)ive Homer“ and passing away in 2014, was the only one who can sing the complete epic of eight parts and 230,000 lines.

All dancers in Aheqi Dance Troupe came to Wuxi for the performance of Manas. They were proud of participating in the first Kirgiz dance drama, which promotes the heroic deeds of their forefather.

A mother left her four-month baby in Aheqi and went to Wuxi for the rehearsal and performance, which lasted for two months. A girl broke her leg in Aheqi before setting out for Wuxi, and hid it until Li Yili, vice president of Wuxi Arts and Performance Group found it. She said she did not say it in fear of being disqualified from the performance.