The National Ballet of China will stage a Chinese version of The Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center in Washington during the next Chinese New Year, presenting Spring Festival scenes with Tchaikovsky's classic soundtrack, said Feng Ying, head of the company.
"In five days from the first day of the Lunar New Year (which falls on Jan 29), we'll present seven performances of The Nutcracker, China style, titled Chinese New Year, at the Kennedy Center," Feng said.
The cultural exchanges (through performances) are very important for different ballet companies and their dancers to understand and appreciate each other’s artistic styles.
Feng Ying, director of the National Ballet of China
She was in Washington to lead a group of young Chinese ballet dancers to participate in 10,000 Dreams: A Celebration of Asian Choreography, a recently concluded celebration recognizing Asian and Asian American creatives.
The five ballet dancers performed Ballade, honoring the legacy of Choo San Goh, the late Singaporean choreographer of Chinese descent who served as resident choreographer and associate artistic director for The Washington Ballet and was hailed for his major contributions to the ballet field.
"The Chinese New Year, a full-length ballet in two acts, will thrill the audiences — overseas Chinese as well as Americans," Feng said.
"It uses the original music by Tchaikovsky and depicts the great joy of Chinese people celebrating the national holiday, which is laden with festive customs and blessings."
The Chinese twist on the all-time ballet favorite is part of the programs that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has planned for its 2024-25 dance season starting October.
The season includes a "rich tapestry" of ballet and dance offerings with reimagined classics, forward-facing work from new and master voices, and unexpected collaborations on the center's stages, the Kennedy Center said.
Audiences can enjoy two distinct renditions of The Nutcracker this season: the Philadelphia Ballet's presentation of George Balanchine's version, and the National Ballet of China's adaptation, Chinese New Year (A Ballet in Two Acts), it said.
Fusion of traditions
The Chinese ballet company, with its "luminous" fusion of traditions, tells the story of a family's Chinese New Year celebration, set to Tchaikovsky's treasured Nutcracker score, the center said.
"This colorful, fresh tale is brought to life by vibrant characters and radiant choreography," it said.
Audiences will be delighted as a scroll of Chinese folklore unfurls, showcasing the legendary monster Nian, the elegant and graceful Fans, the extravagant dances of Silk and Spinning Top, and more wonders in the "ravishing" Porcelain Kingdom, according to the release.
Chinese New Year, which premiered in China in 2000, is one of the company's repertoires performed often during the Spring Festival.
The adaption transforms the traditionally Christmas tale into one set during Chinese New Year, a time for family reunion and good wishes for the new year.
Feng said the audience will see a bonanza of Chinese elements, including the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, and things bearing good wishes, such as pines and cranes, which are symbols of longevity.
In a 2016 review of the show posted on classic music website Bachtrack, Catherine Sutherland, a former dance editor for the site, wrote, "The Chinese New Year is an admirable ode to both a western ballet classic and to Chinese culture."
The National Ballet of China made its Kennedy Center debut in 1986, presenting the Yumeiren (The Mermaid), the first Chinese dance-drama to combine Western ballet with traditional Chinese dance moves, Feng said.
"The cultural exchanges (through performances) are very important for different ballet companies and their dancers to understand and appreciate each other's artistic styles.
"They also offer a venue for the National Ballet of China to demonstrate its artistic standing," she said.
Founded in 1959 and with its "dazzling" hybrid of Western ballet and Chinese culture, the company has won a "distinguished reputation" for performing cherished works and original creations, a release on the Kennedy Center's website said.
