(BEIJING, September 6) -- The Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Paralympics will feature a number of performances by disabled artists. Paralympics Opening Ceremony Executive Director Zhang Jigang offers his insight on the program:

Child Ballerina Li Yue

The Sichuan earthquake disaster area's now-famous child ballerina Li Yue performs Never-ending Dance. Li, a member of the China Disabled Peoples' Performing Arts Troupe, will perform along with national dance contest winner and renowned young danseur Lu Meng.

"The performance conveys disabled people's determination and unrelenting effort to pursue their dreams despite many challenges," Zhang said. He had great praise for the 11-year-old Li who lost her left leg in the Sichuan earthquake on May 12, 2008.

At the time of the earthquake, Li had already studied ballet for two years. Despite the public and private tragedy, Li was determined to not let go of her dream to become a dancer. It was this spirit that moved Zhang to include Li's performance of Never-ending Dance in the Opening Ceremony.

Pianist Jin Yuanhui

The elegant tones of a grand piano reverberate through space, from warming and full to cool and peaceful, the scene passes from midwinter, early spring, to midsummer and finally to golden autumn. Such is the landscape that pianist Jin Yuanhui will paint at the Opening Ceremony with his performance.

Jin, who is blind, uses the black and white keys of the piano to describe the vibrant world in his mind. Acquainted with the Jin since 2000, Zhang Jigang developed a deep impression of the musician and his work through previous collaborative efforts.

"You can hear the mark of technique; from his fingertips flow an incredible understanding and love of music. His treatment of melody is very artistic, very emotional."

Romantic singer Yang Haitao

A sunbird flies from atop the Bird's Nest to the golden meadow below where it wakes a sleeping singer with his chirps. The singer then embarks on journey that traverses space, time and life. That singer's name is Yang Haitao.

"His singing is complete emotion," Zhang described the blind artist. "His voice is magnetic with amazing expressiveness. When performing, he seems complete unaware of his surroundings, enveloped in the emotion of the moment."