The Fourth Xinjiang International Dance Festival will be held from July 20 to August 5 in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Inaugurated in 2008, the festival, which aims to promote cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world through the medium of dance, constitutes a veritable carnival of dancers from home and abroad. The theme of this year's festival is "the Chinese Dream, the Colorful Silk Road."

Dance companies from more than 10 countries and regions will give more than 70 performances, encompassing classical ballet, folk dance, modern dance and musical-style performances, said Tian Wen, Vice Chairwoman of Xinjiang, at a press conference in Beijing on May 7.

In addition to the main venues in Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital, the performances will be held at a number of secondary venues in Changji, Aksu and Karamay, so as to provide more people with an opportunity to experience and appreciate first hand the charms of the dancing arts.

During the festival, other cultural events will run in parallel with the performances, such as the Third China Internet Dance Festival, the International Dance Master Class, the 2015 Silk Road Performance Fair and the First Xinjiang Silk Road Artwork Exhibition.