Young man dances into spotlight in China's Xinjiang

To make matters worse, his parents obstinately believed that hip-pop dancing was not a proper occupation, and that it could lead their child astray. They hoped Xirli Abudukirm could focus on his studies and lead a stable life as a teacher or doctor, or find other "stable jobs" in the future.

"I had my dream and I had to strive for it." Young as he was, Xirli Abudukirm possessed something that allowed him to continue to pursue his dream: bravery, resilience and perseverance.

"In fact, I was never good at moving to the beat of the music, so I often repeated a move a thousand times a day just to master it," he said. To win support and recognition from his parents, he practiced even harder and finally won a local dance competition. When he displayed the pair of sneakers he had won to his parents he felt that they began to gradually change their attitudes.

"Not many people have managed to turn their teenage dreams into a profession," he said. "I'm proud to be an exception, despite the many setbacks along the way."