Photo: courtesy of national ballet of china
The National Ballet of China (NBC) recently concluded its historic first large-scale tour in the Middle East, performing as the opening act for the Abu Dhabi Festival 2024, aninternationally influential arts event in the Middle East.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and with the support of the Chinese Embassy in the UAE and China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the NBC dispatched a performance team of over a hundred members. On January 26 and 27, they staged two performances of the Chinese Lunar New Year ballet "Chinese New Year" at the Emirates Palace Theatre.
The opening scene, set at a temple bazaar in Beijing where the excitement of the New Year celebration was apparent, established the tone for the ballet. Paper lanterns and masks brought the stage to life, immersing the audience in a joyous mood. The play took the audience on a tour through magical fairy kingdoms, such as the Porcelain Kingdom and the Kingdom of the Crane.
The performances coincided with the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, and the NBC brought the culturally rich and distinctly Chinese production to the arts festival. The aim was to present a vibrant and entertaining artistic feast to the UAE audience, offering a sense of happiness, harmony, and reunion from Chinese artists.
After the successful premiere at the Abu Dhabi Festival 2024, Zhang Yiming, Chinese Ambassador to the UAE, congratulated the entire cast and crew, stating, "Tonight's performance is the best way to showcase China's cultural confidence to the world.
"The enthusiastic response from the audience of different nationalities and backgrounds demonstrates the beneficial exchange and mutual learning between different civilizations. I am proud of you all. This year marks the 40th anniversary of China-UAE diplomatic relations, and the successful premiere of the NBC marks the beginning of a series of cultural exchange activities throughout the year."
Director Feng Ying, said in a previous interview with the media that "On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of China-UAE diplomatic relations and the approaching Chinese Lunar New Year, we are bringing this ballet, symbolizing reunion and happiness, for the first time to the audience in the UAE."
"We hope that through the cultural exchange and mutual learning embodied in this production, we can deepen our understanding of each other. Additionally, as we present our art to the audience, we also want to express our friendly sentiments to the people of the UAE," said Feng.
Global Times
URL: https://www.seeglobalnews.com/read-3138.html
