Source: CCTV.com

08-01-2008 10:16

While the Olympic excitement is already getting underway here in Beijing. China's National Ballet is over in London, performing "Swan Lake" at the Royal Opera House this week. The company's director talked about her understanding of the art in China and looked ahead to the future of ballet.

China's National Ballet is over in London, performing "Swan Lake" at the Royal Opera House this week.

The National Ballet of China is making its first visit to the Royal Opera House. Between July 28th and August 2nd it will mount performances of "Swan Lake" and and

"Raise the Red Lantern." "Raise the Red Lantern" was adapted by director Zhang Yimou from his film of the same name.

The ballet's director, Zhao Ruheng says ballet must reinvent itself in China. It cannot rely solely on Western influence but must find resonance in Chinese traditions in an era of rampant consumerism and constantly emerging forms of entertainment.

Zhao Ruheng, Director of National Ballet of China, said, "I think as Chinese we learned that way -- because we like to use this ballet as an art form to create something Chinese, to create something of our own so we have been trying very hard. We have been trying very hard for now before and in the future to do some classical ballets, new classical ballets and some very contemporary pieces as well. In this process while we are doing more and more Western things we think we can enthuse these things with more Chinese-rich culture and our own dance elements so we can do these things better and better."

Zhao, who is now 64, paid a price for her dedication to the art. Her on stage career was brought to a precipitate end when she injured her feet while performing outdoors in freezing temperatures.

Zhao has stayed with the national ballet company since it was founded 49 years ago. Now she is the company's director.