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Ma Xiaodong Graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy in 2009, joined the the National Ballet of China in the same year. In 2012 he became the youngest principle dancer in NB of China. He has won many awards in Chinese and International dance competitions. Among them: First Prize, Men's junior group of "Tao Li Cup", the Chinese National Dance Competition in 2006. Gold Medal, Men's Junior group, the First Beijing International Ballet Invitational competition in 2006. Bronze Medal, Men's Junior group, The International Ballet Competition - Varna 2008. First Prize, Men's Senior group of "Tao Li Cup" National Dance Competition in 2009. Silver Medal, Men's Senior Group, The International Ballet Competition - Varna 2010. He has danced leading roles in Don Quixote, Bat (La Chauve Souris), Giselle, The Little Mermaid, Swan Lake, Celebrating New Year (Chinese version of The Nutcracker), Peony Pavilion, The Rite of Spring and Roland Petit's L'Arlésienne, as well as many classical ballet pas de deux and modern ballets such as Confucius 2012, Dawn, Hamlet, Close Your Eyes In Dark and etc. He was awarded as Outstanding Young Actor in 2012 and Outstanding Actor in 2013 by The Chinese Ministry of Culture. Wang Ye Graduated from the Shanghai Theater Academy affiliated dance school in 2003, joined the National Ballet of China in the same year. In 2014 she was promoted to Principal Dancer. In 2012 she won the Jury's Special Prizes for Best non-competing partner in Helsinki International Ballet Competition 2012. And in 2013 she was invited by the National Ballet of Finland to dance as Odette / Odile in Swan Lake. SHe has danced leading roles in Swan Lake (Makarova version), Giselle, Celebrating New Year (Chinese version of "The Nutcracker" ), as well as the Princess in The Little Mermaid (John Numerier), Olega in Onegin, Gulnare in Le Corsaire, (Young) Yuan Yuan in Celebrating New Year, Xiao E in The Red Detachment of Women, in addition to performing in ballet Raise the Red Lantern, Bat (La Chauve Souris), Peony Pavilion, Romeo and Juliet, Grand Pas Classique, La Esmeralda, Marble Girl, modern ballet works such as Goodbye My Love, On the Road, White Snake on Earth, In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, Kazimierz Color, Beethoven's Symphony Nº 7, Rachmaninov Piano Concerto Nº 3, Pink Floyd Ballet and etc. She has toured the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Finland, Australia, Russia, Cuba, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, as well as other countries and regions around the world. She won the Outstanding Performance Award conferred by the Chinese Ministry of Culture in 2012. References: http://www.ballet.org.cn/yanyuan_detail/&productId=103.html http://www.ballet.org.cn/yanyuan_detail/&productId=63.html

The annual “Meet in Beijing” International Arts Festival is overseen by Chinese Ministry of Culture to promote international cultural exchanges by presenting Chinese culture while introducing international culture and artists. This year the organizer of Meet in Beijing has invited American Ballet Theater principle dancer Isabella Boylston and Boston Ballet principal dancer Paulo Arrais to dance the leading roles in Swan Lake with the National Ballet of China for Opening Night performance at the National Center for the Performing Arts. April 23, 2015 Odette/Odile: Isabella Boylston (Principal of American Ballet Theater) Prince Siegfried: Ma Xiaodong (Principal of NB of China) April 24, 2015 Odette/Odile: Wang Ye (Principal of NB of China) Prince Siegfried: Paulo Arrais (Principal of Boston Ballet) References: http://www.ballet.org.cn/news_detailn/newsId=1155.html http://ticket.chncpa.org/product-1001209.html

The title should be Washington Post's Article on Paloma Herrera, Julie Kent and Xiomara Reyes It was too long and cut without warning.

These star ballerinas are retiring — graceful, and grateful, to the last dance By Sarah Kaufman March 20, 2015 http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/these-star-ballerinas-are-retiring--graceful-and-grateful-to-the-last-dance/2015/03/20/62f0ef6a-cf24-11e4-a2a7-9517a3a70506_story.html

This is very possible. If they are touring in China and dancing Swan Lake, it is almost guaranteed to make money, especially, with recorded music, i.e., no orchestra. Last 10 years you could often see such ads in China: Swan Lake by Russian National Ballet Theatre Published on Dec 28, 2014 Swan Lake by Russian National Ballet Theatre Rating: ***** Dates: February 20-21, 2015 Venue: Poly Theatre Prices: 100, 200, 300, 500, 800, 1280 RMB http://w.theatrebeijing.com/whats_on/dance_ballet/2015/swan_lake_by_russian_national_ballet_theatre.html Russian National / Classical / Imperial Ballet Theaters are constantly touring in China to perform Swan Lake, Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. The Chinese currency RMB ¥1280 equals to $200 now. When Russian National Ballet was touring in the US, how much were the ticket prices? About 10 years ago there was a rush on building grand theaters by local goverments in many cities of China. And also Chinese young people are eagerly to see all kinds of foreign arts. That gives lots of chances for western artists, musicians and actors. Even small ballet companies like New Zealand Royal Ballet, Prodanza de Cuba, …, could get into the National Center of Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing. Swan Lake by Ballet Nacional de Cuba in the Spring Festival Holiday http://www.chncpa.org/ens/ycgp/ycyg/2015-02-25/971371.shtml Ballet Nacional de Cuba Swan Lake Venue： Opera House Dates： Feb. 20, 2015-Feb. 24, 2015 Price： 1280/980/880/780/680/480/280/180 RMB http://www.chncpa.org/ens/ycgp/jmxx/2015-01-12/969802.shtml How did Prodanza de Cuba become Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Laura Alonso become the Artistic Director of Ballet Nacional de Cuba? ..., Don’t ask me! Last winter Prodanza de Cuba toured China from Shanghai, 12/19/2014, to Beijing, 02/24/2015, for two months in 16 cities. As I read from reports, Laura Alonso is very happy about the success of such ballet tour. The English National Ballet is going to dance Swan Lake in China too. English National Ballet Swan Lake Venue： Opera House (in NCPA) Dates： May 09, 2015-May 10, 2015 Price： 1000/800/700/600/500/300/240/180 RMB http://www.chncpa.org/ens/ycgp/jmxx/2015-03-06/972058.shtml How come the tickets of English National Ballet's Swan Lake are cheaper than Prodanza de Cuba's? I think English National Ballet has much better dancers. Maybe, Alina Cojocaru & Tamara Rojo are not going to China? Or, they forgot to put "Princess Diana wanted to dance with ENB", "Princess Diana was known for her generosity in supporting the English National Ballet", such words in their advertising? Anyway, I am pretty happy for ballet dancers who can make money in China. Moreover, I am very pleased when I see most audiences going to see ballet and opera in China are young people in their 20s, 30s, or 40s. Not like in the west, I always see white hairs in ballet and opera performances, as well as in classical concerts.

Osipova would be in La fille mal gardée, the next ROH broadcasting. ROH is trying to make as much as possible from Osipova's contract. How many years would Osipova be in ROH?

Better than last time, I could finally get into the drama when Odette, Siegfried and Rothbart danced pas de trois in the last few minutes of Act 4. The scene design just distracted me too much. The stage is small, even worse, it is cut by the stage set and left half for dancing. That made Osipova and Golding, both are super sporty dancers, seemed to dance in a cage. I was disappointed. From the middle of the show I couldn't help thinking of Krysanova and Hallberg's Swan Lake I saw last summer in N.Y., which was much better in both technique and performance. I didn't see Osipova Magic tonight like her in Flames of Paris, Don Quixote, and her debut of Giselle.

No, I don't like ROH's Swan Lake that I saw last time in HD theater, that's ugly and messy. I could not figure out what is wrong, the rustic costumes? the corp dancing? the camera work? the civic & snazzy style? or, simply I didn't get it? Prokofiev's ballet musics are very special. His Romeo and Juliet is modern and full of medieval pressure. So far, all three Romeo & Juliet ballets by Lavrovsky, Grigorovich and MacMillan are fine to me, though I like Lavrovsky-Ulanova's best. Prokofiev's Cinderella is modern and fairy-tale. From visual arts point of view, no any other visual arts of Cinderella can surpass the 2-D cartoon movie, Walt Disney's Cinderella. Among many Cinderella ballets, only Ratmansky's Grand Waltz for Cinderella and Prince in Act II, as well as the step-mother can compete. MacMillan's Manon, Mayerling are modern Shakespeare dramas, they are very heavy and theatrical. I like Ashton's ballets that are clean, straight forward, not obscure, especially, his La fille mal gardée, Marguerite and Armand. I have not seen many ROH's ballets, and never seen them in theaters. "Alastair Macaulay does not like the 19th-century setting of the Royal Ballet's production," I could agree with him on that, though, I always like ballets to be integrated visual arts to inspire people's feeling and imagination.

If not for Osipova, I would not like go to see ROH's Swan Lake again tonight. Someone may enlighten me about what is good, what to see in ROH's Swan Lake. In general I didn't like ROH's Shakespearized classical ballets. In the Act I of Giselle ROH's noblemen costumes were all in Henry VIII fashion style. However, the music is not. So, it made me feel odd. They made the scene in Act I of Swan Lake look like a market, similar to the Act I in Romeo & Juliet. Even worse, ROH's swans all wore the rag-decorated skirts. I have never seen a living swan's feather in a such terrible mess. Plus, they used too much close-up shots in HD ballet. Probably, the British thought they knew drama well. But, only few ballet dancers have convinced face expressions. They have better show us the integrated dancing. Maybe, what I wrote above is too negative? However, I just want to know if I missed something in ROH's classical ballets, they were really great?

I guess Krysanova would dance in Taming of the Shrew and Zakharova in Lady of the Camelias. I also want to see Krysanova dancing Kitri in Don Quixote. But, who would be her Basile? Chudin, again? When I saw Chudin as Basile in New York last year, I thought this Basile must be a buckeen, now he became a barber to make living.

What's happened to Russian Seasons? Did Ratmansky choreograph it for Bolshoi originally? Russian Seasons seems to be pretty popular now. American and Italian also dance it. I remember that last year in an interview Ratmansky was asked if he had any plan for Bolshoi, he answered 'NO for next year (2015)'. He might be too busy to coach the rehearsals for Russian Seasons ?

The Royal Ballet La Fille mal gardée May 5 2015

Go home? Wish her best luck in future work, like Nina Ananiashvili.

On Feb. 15, 2015, I went to the National Grand Theater in Beijing to see ballet Romeo & Juliet performed by Liaoning Ballet of China. This is Yuri Grigorovich's version of R&J, choreographed in 1978 for Bolshoi. Even the stage design and costumes are the same as in Bolshoi's R&J. In order to achieve premier success in China, Yuri Grigorovich made a special trip to Liaoning Ballet during their final rehearsal of R&J in early February. He, as the general director, also brought in his stage assistant, stage designer and the music conductor Andrei Anikhanov, the whole team, with him. Actually, all stage sets and costumes are made in Russia. The Russian tailors had come to Liaoning Ballet to get accurate measurements of dancers for the costumes. The premiere of Liaoning Ballet's Romeo & Juliet was on February 8th at the Liaoning Grand Theater in Shenyang. After the premiere, Liaoning Ballet made a tour to Beijing and presented R&J in the National Grand Theater for two days. The casting for R&J of Liaoning Ballet: Feb. 14, 2015 Romeo - Ma Ming Juliet - Yu Chuanya Tybalt - Lv Meng Mercutio - Kou Zuquan Count Paris - Zhang Haidong Feb. 15, 2015 Romeo - Jiao Yang Juliet - Wang Yun Tybalt - Zhang Haidong Mercutio - Ma Ming Count Paris - Gu Yue Among the leading dancers, many of them have won international ballet competitions in Varna, Vienna, Helsinki, Japan, … Although I have seen Yuri Grigorovich's R&J on HD screen, plus many times on YouTube, I already set a very high bar for this ballet, I was very surprised to see such good performances by the young dancers of Liaoning Ballet. The two leading roles were danced by Jiao Yang (Romeo) and Wang Yun (Juliet). Jiao and Wang are very famous in Chinese ballet world, though, I am not familiar with them. Technically, they were super. In solo dancing they made the steps and movements seem effortless. In duets they had implicit cooperation. Emotionally, their acting was kind of restrained in Act I, but much more improved in Act II. I was very impressed by the corp dancing. Not only the dancers could execute these movements in unison very well, but also their dancing were very emotional and musical. The music flown in motion of their bodies and formation of the corps de ballet. The best performance was regarded to be Ma Ming's Mercutio IMO. Ma Ming is a natural dancer with masterly ability, technique, and personal style. His Mercutio was quick, flexible, very expressive and pleasant, almost as good as Andrei Bolotin's from Bolshoi. Well, it is not fare to make such comparison, because one is in theater and another on HD screen. All dancers are very competent for their roles in R&J. Liaoning Ballet gave an excellent performance of Romeo & Juliet. During the curtain calls Yuri Grigorovich shown up on the stage. He looked very happy about Liao Ballet's achievement. References: Liaoning Ballet http://www.lnballet.com/en/index.php

The title says all.

BTW, it would not be easy for me to chase the National Ballet of China. When I learned that the NB of China was going to perform the Nutcracker(Chinese Version) on Feburary 10th and 11th, 2015, at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), I was very pleased to have a chance to see this ballet again, because I was planning to visit Bejing before the Chinese New Year holiday in early Feburary of 2015. However, when I checked the online box-office of NCPA, I found no information about NB of China's The Nutcracker, although the performance schedule "2015 Feburary 10/11th, at NCPA, The Nutcracker (in Chinese: 2015年2月10／11日 国家大剧院歌剧院《过年》)" is still posted on the NB of China's web blog. So, I called the ballet theater on 10th of Feb. to see what is going on. I was told that the show was over, there would be no more performances before the Chinese New Year's day (Feb, 19th, 2015). Why and How did the NB of China canceld the performances at the NCPA? I have no clue, and there is no any way I could ask for an explaination.

On February 6th and 7th, 2015, the Nationa Ballet of China presented a cheerful performance of ballet the Nutcracker (Chinese Version) at the Tianqiao theater as a Happy New Year's gift to Beijing residents. The Nutcracker is one of best ballets in the world. The Nutcracker has gorgeous and spectacular scenes, as well as humorous and strong appealing dances by Tchaikovsky's music, which make the show an the exciting production for the New Year and Christmas holidaies for the Western. It is also regarded as "the Christmas ballet" in the world, without exception . The Nutcracker is a masterpiece of performing arts in the west, that has strong western culture and ballet arts background. The story line of ballet The Nutcracker of Chinese Version is essentially following Tschaikovsky's music for classical ballet the Nutcracker. However, the artists in the National Ballet of China intergrated many traditions and habitudes in celebration activities for Chinese New Year into the coreography to make the Nutcracker have different look. The main roles in this ballet, a girl and a boy, both have Chinese names - Yuan Yuan and Tuan Tuan. The mices become monsters. The nutcracker solders are under tigers' masks. The dancing of snow flakes, many ballet lovers' favorite scene, is replaced by dancing of The Red-crowned cranes in snow. The charecter dances in the fantasy world are all compositions of 12 Zodiac costumes performances; as well as dances of candied fruits, chic and elegant fans, silk ribbons, kites, spinning tops and gold ingots, ... and etc. Finally, the fireworks cannot be missed! Photographer: Shi Ren References: 1. National Ballet of China - New Chinese Nutcracker http://balletalert.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/32985-national-ballet-of-china-new-chinese-nutcracker/ 2. Ballet: The Nutcracker http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/Elementals/performancecalendar/t1151922.htm 3. Value-Added Service of Art from Bank of China - Ballet Appreciation at "Art Lectures" http://www.bankofchina.com/en/aboutboc/boccsr/201102/t20110223_1306193.html 4. 中芭邀您喜气“羊羊”来《过年》 http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_473f97a00102vf6e.html 5. 年终岁末贺新春 剧美舞精送祝福——记中央芭蕾舞团贺岁舞剧《过年》倾情上演 http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_473f97a00102vfn8.html

I was very surprised to know that the National Ballet of China would dance The Red Detachment of Women, when they are taking part in Lincoln Center Festival 2015. Probably, this is the idea and selection of the festival's organizer.

Lincoln Center Festival 2015 has published the schedule of performances by The National Ballet of China at David H. Koch Theater. The Peony Pavilion: July 8–10 Wednesday, July 8 at 8:00 Thursday, July 9 at 7:30 Friday, July 10 at 7:30 The Red Detachment of Women: July 11–12 Saturday, July 11 at 8:00 Sunday, July 12 at 2:00 More photos and stories about these two ballets can be found on the organizer's website: http://www.lincolncenterfestival.org/2015/the-peony-pavilion http://www.lincolncenterfestival.org/2015/the-red-detachment-of-women ( So far, I could not find any information about casting. )

Last weekend the National Ballet of China gave two performances of The Peony Pavilion, one of their original Chinese ballets, in Beijing to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the NB of China. On their website, some news was quietly leaked that the NB of China would participate in Lincoln Center Festival and present The Peony Pavilion to New York's audiences in July of 2015. Since a successful premiere in 2008, The Peony Pavilion has been further improved and polished for romantic and ethereal sense of artistry. The NB of China has performed this ballet in Hong Kong Arts Festival 2009, the Edinburgh International Festival 2011 and the Melbourne Victorian Arts Centre in 2012. So far so good, The Peony Pavilion has got good reviews and won applause from critics and audiences. The NB of China expects a successful North American debut of a complete version of The Peony Pavilion for Lincoln Center Festival and hopes New York's ballet audiences would find real enjoyment in this Chinese ballet, a combination of the Chinese traditional culture and modern ballet style. As long as I get more detailed information on dates, programs, dancers, and etc., about their visiting New York this coming summer, I will open a new topic for more reports and discussions. Photographer: Shi Ren（时任） News References: http://www.ballet.org.cn/news_detailn/newsId=1111.html http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_473f97a00102vc3p.html

Thanks for putting all together and leading the discussions. I have watched and learned so much that the music of Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux would keep on sounding in my head, when I went jogging. I have found another two YouTube clips of Tchai pdd: Mathilde Froustey and Laëtitia Pujol.

Ok, just for fun, I used my video tools to make some comparison. Based on the YouTube videos listed in Kathleen O'Connell's post, Zakharova & Copeland both danced the Tchai Pas variation in 44s. Maybe, they used the same music recording? BTW, Mcbride did in 42s. However, I don't think that is important at all. What is important? Considering dancing style, it is very obvious that Zakharova & Copeland are very different dancers. Zakharova's Tchai Pas is extremely lyrical, her arms‘ waving like silk ribbons, Copeland’s more wooden. Unfortunately, we could never know whom, Zakharova or Copeland, Mr. Balanchine would say "this is better" to.

I don't quite understand what is the mean of "too slow". Do they dance with the same music? Did they make music slow down for Russian Ballerinas? Any one has a video clip of Krysanova's Tchai Pas? I have only seen photo of her dancing Tchai Pas. She is fast!

On my computer screen the ad for PNB's Don Quixote says: Escape to Sunny Spain! Thinking about the raining in Seattle,

Why do they make the stage look so small and crowded? Maybe, it looks small only in YouTube-Trailer PAQUITA? BTW, from 2:45 it seems that the dancer even couldn't expand legs to do his Jetés in full. The recording of POB's Paquita shown on Russian TV (РОССИЯ К) is sitting just next to Munich's Trailer PAQUITA on YouTube. That stage is huge! However, POB's tutu in Grand Pas looks dirty.