A ballerina from The National Ballet of China dances Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake." (Photo : Reuters)
Meet in Beijing Arts Festival organizers announced at a press conference on Thursday that the celebration will open with two "Swan Lake" performances on April 23.
Co-produced by China and the U.S., the "Swan Lake" perfomances will be graced by dancers from The National Ballet of China, the American Ballet Theater and the Boston Ballet at Beijing’s National Center for the Performing Arts.
The first performance will be presented by Isabella Boylston, from the American Ballet Theater, who will play as the Swan, while Ma Xiaodong, from The National Ballet of China, will be as the Prince.
On the other hand, Wang Ye from China and Paulo Arrais from the Boston Ballet will take on the second performance.
"Swan Lake" is a classic romantic ballet composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875. Based on a German fairy tale, the classic dance revolves on the love story of a prince named Siegfried and the swan princess, Odette.
Natalia Makarova, a Russian prima ballerina and choreographer who is considered as one of the greatest classical dancers, will choreograph the classic ballet.
Dancers and singer from 25 countries will share 100 indoor and 50 outdoor performances across the capital until May 30, the Global Times reported.
Meet in Beijing Arts Festival is a big international festival hosted by China’s Ministry of Culture, the Beijing Municipality Government, and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.
Inaugurated in 2000, the festival aims to spread Chinese traditional culture, introducing the essence of overseas arts as well as promoting cultural exchanges between China and the other parts of the world.
"Esprit Francais” was the theme of the festival in 2014, where several French pieces were featured in the opening of the concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France.
