The National Ballet of China will present French choreographer
Roland Petit's "Carmen," "L'Arlesienne" and Act 3 of "Raymonda" at
Tianqiao Theatre on May 5 to 7.
Chinese ballerina Zhu Yan and Wang Qimin will dance with stars
Manuel Legris and Benjamin Pech from Opera de Paris.
The collaboration between Roland Petit and National Ballet of
China was a highlight event during the Year of France in China. The
81-year-old master was deeply impressed by the dancers, especially
the ballerina Wang Qimin and almost fell in love with the company
immediately. He even said that their performances of "Carmen" and
"L'Arlesienne" were the best since he created them.
Meanwhile, the dancers reciprocate the choreographer's
feelings.
"I feel so honoured to perform the title role in 'Carmen.' He
created the dance in 1949 but it still looks so trendy today," said
dancer Zhu Yan. "I have learned much from him. He is very strict in
rehearsal and demands us to portray the characters instead of
simple body movements."
Another dancer surnamed Wang agrees.
"From the first sight, I could not believe he is in his 80s. He
is so energetic and his eyes are so impressive," said Wang. "His
passion for dance greatly inspired us to perform."
Petit has promised to choreograph new works for the company in
July and will bring Wang and her partner Li Jun to tour Japan and
Paris later this year.
Fashion designer Pierre Cardin initiates a song and dance show
combining French chansons such as "Edith Piaf," "Jacques Brel,"
"Sous le ciel de Paris" and "La vie en rose" with Chinese ballet
and contemporary dance. Cardin designs all the costumes for the
show.
The French singer Gerard Chambre and his band will give a live
show, while Gaoyan Jinzi from Beijing Modern Dance Company and Xu
Gang from National Ballet of China are commissioned to choreograph
the show which will be performed at Beijing's Century Theatre on
May 12 and 13 and then tour in Paris in July.
"Most of the songs are romantic old songs familiar to us," said
Xu, who was China's leading ballet dancer in the late 1980s and
early 1990s. He is the ballet master and choreographer with
National Ballet of China.
The popular French hip-hop dancer and choreographer Najib Guerfi
will work with Ma Qiang and Cao Peizhong from Beijing Modern Dance
Company to bring "Babel" to audiences in Beijng on May 25 and 26
and to Shanghai on May 28.
"What if the anger of the gods provoked by the construction of
the tower of Babel had not only generated the creation of language
but also that of dance?
"The gods had wanted to separate mankind by creating different
languages, but what if dance had been the chosen language of
mankind, one able to overcome all barriers, enabling them to unite,
to express themselves, to understand each other, by speaking a
unique language, that of the body," said Guerfi, explaining the
ideas behind the choreography.
"Even if each dance has its own codes, its own origins, its own
movements, the dancers express common values. Just as in a country
where everyone lives with respect of his kin, dance will be our way
to reunite with each other.
"Hip-hop will be the link which will allow each individual to
retain his own originality while integrating the story of 'the
other' thereby recreating a harmonious whole."
(China Daily April 21, 2006)
