Lin Xiaoyi, a voluntary official to assist Aheqi county from Wuxi, now work as the deputy county Party secretary in Aheqi.

Lin refused to any interview before May 18, when the dance drama Batir Manas made its debut. He always accompanied the performance group and concentrated on every detail during the rehearsal. The dance drama of Batir Manas is the first one of its kind for Kirgiz ethnic group and an important promotion for Kirgiz culture.

Wuxi city started the cultural assistance project with Aheqi county in 2007, which has involved nearly 100 Wuxi volunteers. When Lin finished his term of three years in 2013, he applied for a second term.

Aheqi county, in Kizilsu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, covers an area of 16,800 square meters and comprises 70 percent of mountain land and 25 percent of pasture. The county suffers from a severe desertification and a distinct diurnal temperature difference.

Lin invited many Wuxi volunteers, including experienced dancers and singers, to help improve the cultural infrastructure in Aheqi. With help from Wuxi dancers and singers, Aheqi established a chorus and improve the regulation in dance troupe. Lin also helped dancers in the dance troupe get higher payment.

The idea of promoting Manas came to Lin’s mind in the end of 2013, after he talked with Deng Xinping, director of Aheqi Dance Troupe, who said it was pity that Manas, the Kirgiz epic, had no presentable performance.

Lin called Liu Zhongbao, president of Wuxi Arts and Performance Group to discuss to cooperate a dance drama themed Manas. Three months later, the written materials of Manas arrived in Wuxi, and the script writing started in March, 2014.

After seeing the success of the first performances of Batir Manas starting on May 18, Lin left Wuxi for Aheqi on May 24.

Lin Xiaoyi (L) inspects a workshop in Aheqi county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in 2012. [Photo/xjahq.gov.cn]