Homecoming of the Stars: 12 Chinese Dancers Bring World-Class Artistry to Shanghai

Twelve Chinese dancers, who regularly grace the stage for major ballet companies and theaters around the world, have gathered in Shanghai this week to present two gala performances in front of domestic audiences.

The show is produced and artistically directed by Ao Dingwen, principal dancer and choreographer from Liaoning Ballet. The programs blend classical tradition with a contemporary edge, offering a vivid display of their artistic range.

"Through a diverse selection of pieces, we want the audience to fully appreciate the breadth of Chinese dancers' artistry," said Ao.

"They can faithfully recreate the orthodox elegance of Western classical ballet that spans centuries, master the cutting-edge vocabulary of international contemporary choreography, and most importantly, use ballet to tell Eastern stories deeply rooted in our own culture," she added.

This year's lineup includes: Chun Wai Chan, the first Chinese principal in the 74-year history of New York City Ballet; Fang Zhongjing, a soloist with American Ballet Theatre; Sun Jiayong, a leading Chinese principal dancer with the Béjart Ballet Lausanne in Switzerland; and Zhang Jinhao, the first Asian principal in the 368-year history of the Bavarian State Opera's Ballet Company in Germany.

Also featured are Zhao Wanting, who moved from principal dancer at San Francisco Ballet to principal at Boston Ballet; Staatsballett Berlin's Wu Lulun; Bai Dingkai from Norwegian National Ballet; as well as principals and soloists from Hong Kong Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Dutch National Ballet.

The first half of the performance will be anchored in classical ballet, interspersed with minimalist modern works and original Chinese-style pieces, including Hans van Manen's "Trois Gnossiennes" and a pas de deux excerpt from the original Shanghai Grand Theater production "White Snake."

The second half covers classical pas de deux, Balanchine neoclassicism, and cutting-edge contemporary ballet from Europe and America, featuring Susan Jaffe's "Midnight" and Christopher Wheeldon's "After the Rain."

Performance info

Dates: July 25, 7:30pm; July 26, 2pm

Tickets: 180-980 yuan

Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater 上海大剧院

Address: 300 People's Ave 人民大道300号