First full-length Chinese ballet turns 50
The National Ballet of China will perform extracts from "The Red Detachment of Women", the first and most successful full-length Chinese ballet. The company is celebrating the show's 50th anniversary with a tour in China, which has already begun at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
The Red Detachment of Women premiered on September 26, 1964, performed by the National Ballet of China. It was the first and, to-date, most successful full-length Chinese ballet, with both the theme and content reflecting a very unique Chinese style.
The show follows the story of Qionghua, the daughter of a peasant in the 1930s. She manages to escape from an evil landlord and join the revolutionary army.
Since its debut, the ballet has been acclaimed for its moving and tragic plot, elaborate stage design and graceful choreography.
The revival of the classic ballet features an all-star line-up from the National Ballet. The dancers even lived for months in military camps to learn swordplay in order to portray the soldiers vividly and accurately on stage.
"'The Red Detachment of Women' fully showcases the spirit of the Chinese people. The piece is hailed as a model of the successful combination of Western ballet techniques with Chinese folk dancing. I believe we can breath new life into the classic show," said Feng Ying, director of the National Ballet of China.
The new tour will see 50 performances, apt considering it marks the 50th anniversary of the piece. The tour will take the company to various cities around the country, before it comes back to the capital for the last performance at the great Hall of the People.
"The Red Detachment of Women" is celebrating 50th anniversary with a tour in China
