By Wang Ke
China.org.cn staff reporter

A group of working class kids from Beijing Xing Zhi Migrant School took part this week in a five day creative dance workshop organized by the British Council, the Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Chinese non-profit arts group Hua Dan.

The workshop was inspired by David Bintley's ballet Beauty and the Beast, which is to be performed by the Royal Ballet at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing later this month. The company will also be performing Romeo and Juliet.

Echoing the 2001 feature film Billy Elliot, the boys danced with just as much enthusiasm as the girls.

"My name is Zhang Baiyang and I’m eight this year. My mum and dad are migrant workers. I'm studying in Xing Zhi School. I love ballet! I love dancing! The best part was the Hunter's Dance," one boy told China.org.cn.