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Collaboration between fashion and arts is becoming common these days. However, watching a modern dance performance featuring costumes by some of the most avant-garde fashion designers was still quite an experience.

Created by renowned Chinese dance artist Jin Xing, the show was staged in the Central Hall at the World Expo site as part of the celebration of the Sweden Pavilion Day on May 23.

Members from the Jin Xing's dance troupe perform during the National Pavilion Day for Sweden at the Shanghai World Expo Site, May 23, 2010.

Fifteen dancers displayed more than 50 items of apparel by five Sweden-based fashion designers - Sandra Backlund, Martin Bergstrom, Diana Orving, Nakkna and Goran Sundberg.

"Dancers are not models but they give the clothes a 'life'," Jin says. "Their moves and turnarounds are perfectly blended with all these designer pieces, making the performance a constantly moving fashion show."

Members from the Jin Xing's dance troupe perform during the National Pavilion Day for Sweden at the Shanghai World Expo Site, May 23, 2010.

According to Jin, all the costumes represent the innovative spirit of Swedish fashion. "I think the Swedish fashion has come to an age of reflection, a fact that is vividly depicted in my show," she says.

Most of the clothes feature a neutral palette of earth tones. Some are simply all black. Baclund's proportional knitwear has a special three-dimensional effect - it was probably the first time dancers performed in such heavy costumes.

Members from the Jin Xing's dance troupe perform during the National Pavilion Day for Sweden at the Shanghai World Expo Site, May 23, 2010.

All in black, the pieces by Nakkna, on the other hand, were lightweight, youthful, suited for androgynous dressing and more practical for daily wear.

Among the five designers, Jin likes Bergstrom the most. "His works remind me of the early works of Jean Paul Gautier," she explains. "They 'dangerously' challenge people's ultimate imagination, which also became a great source of inspiration for me."

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