Performer: National Ballet of China

A stunning visual spectacle that merges ballet with conceptual art and ancient Chinese Opera.

National Ballet of China’s The Chinese New Year, a Chinese adaptation of the Christmas classic The Nutcracker is without a doubt the most extravagant celebration of the national holiday that any resident of China could hope for.

Unlike some contemporary Giselle being performed in the West, National Ballet of China’s version harks back to the delicacy and romance of the 1841 original. The choreography performed at Beijing’s NCPA last Friday was strikingly beautiful, wonderfully capturing the profound emotion of the piece. 

An interview with Ms Feng Ying, Artistic Director of the National Ballet of China, who talks of the company's recent engagements abroad, the History of ballet in China, the company's distinct tradition and the challenges ahead.