Disabled Chinese ballet dancers Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei will perform in Hanoi in a charity show this weekend.

Ma Li (R) and Zhai Xiaowei performing "Hand in Hand." Photo: Tuoi Tre

28-year-old Zhai Xiaowei lost his left leg when he was 4, while Ma Li lost her right arm in an accident in 1996 when she was 19.

The pair met each other in 2005 and then encouraged each other to practice ballet. In 2007, their “Hand in Hand” performance won the Silver prize in CCTV’s (China’s national TV channel) Dance Contest, which attracted around 7,000 participants.

“The Empathy Hearts” is to be held by the Hanoi-based Family and Children magazine, the Capital Communications Corporation, and the city’s Red Cross, and will also feature a number of local artists.

Also at the show, around VND4billion (USD200,000) will be handed over to children with congenital cardiac diseases as well as disabled kids and dioxin victims across the country.

“The Empathy Hearts” will take place at 8pm on April 21 at the Hanoi Opera House at 1 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District.

The show will also be broadcast live on VTV2.