The China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe is set to wow their Zimbabwean audience when they showcase their act at Celebration Centre on tomorrow.

Making a third return to Zimbabwe, the Unesco Artist for Peace is brought to the country by the Chinese Embassy and the Zimbabwe Chinese Business Association.

The main performers are a new generation of young stars trained by the troupe since childhood and they will be evincing an act called "My Dream, A Treat of Art, A Touch of Heart".

"In 1987 about 30 disabled people who love arts were permitted to participate in China Arts Festival and founded the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe. CDPPAT was an amateur organisation with low arts level and the performers aimed to entertain themselves passing the idea of equality and participation while appealing for a civilised and friendly environment," said the Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Xin Shunkang.

He said CDPPAT does not want people to watch their shows just from sympathy and curiosity.

"In 2000, they improved to professional level and created the large-scale musical dance, "My Dream" with insistent wills, unique performances and profound spiritual significance. In 2002, they entered the cultural market and made their commercial shows successful and got recognition by the audience," he said.

CDPPAT gave up their governmental allowance and started to support themselves by their commercial shows besides charity shows in 2004.

They gave performances in villages and communities. "CDPPAT has become an uplifting, harmonious and pure spiritual home. The average age of all the 104 performers is 20. The president, art director, dance and music arrangers are all disabled people.

They undertake all the work including programme modification, performer training, publicity and marketing. The performers are divided into two teams so as to be able to perform in different places at the same time," Ambassador Xin said. The My Dream series and programmes cover vocal solo, chorus, songs with dance, traditional Chinese instrument band, folk dance, ballet, Latin dance, modern dance and condensed dance drama.