Sanya Yipsy Ballet Art Center (Yipsy Balletto) is a special ballet school in Sanya, in South China's Hainan Province. Why? All of the ballet teachers are from Cuba. Yipsy Trujillo Gonzalez, the center's founder and art director, moved to Sanya 11 years ago. 

Yipsy, who began studying ballet at the age of 8, was once a member of the National Ballet of Cuba, one of the world's most prestigious ballet troupes. Given her expertise and effective teaching approach, Yipsy and her center have won the trust of Chinese parents, and the locals are willing to send their children to learn ballet at the center. 

The art center has a total of five Cuban ballet teachers. "I think we are like a bridge that connects China and Cuba, and we help the locals have a better understanding of Cuba, and its culture," Yipsy says. 

In 2020, China unveiled a master plan to transform Hainan Island into a globally influential and high-level free trade port (FTP) by the middle of this century. 

Currently, Hainan Province is accelerating preparations for independent customs operations in 2025, and the province is taking steps to promote socioeconomic development, and to position itself at the forefront of China's high-level opening up. 

"In this context, Hainan has implemented a series of policies and measures to better serve foreign talents, and to let us share China's development opportunities. Working and living in Sanya is now becoming more convenient for foreigners. Hainan's international cultural atmosphere is becoming increasingly strong, and there are more opportunities for foreigners to show their talents and excel in life," Yipsy says. 

During the past 11 years, Yipsy has not only enjoyed her life and established her career in Sanya, but she has also played a role in promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Cuba. 

"I am impressed by China's cultural diversity and development vitality. I would like to visit more areas of China in the future, to gain a deeper understanding of the country, share my thoughts and experiences with more people, and do my part to promote friendship between the peoples of the two countries," Yipsy says. 

"China is a country with a vast territory and abundant resources. The greatest thing about living in China is the convenience and the sense of security. I believe China will enjoy better development in the future, and China will also create more development opportunities for the world," she adds.

Photos from Interviewee

(Women of China English Monthly October 2024)

Editor: Wang Shasha