In 2004, the National Ballet of China caught people’s attention by its brand-new productions such as “Raise the Red Lantern” and its rapid rise in fame throughout the world. But few people know of their rough times when for years the company was under-funded and out of date. The only reward then for the dancers seemed to be the art itself.

Now we come to the National Ballet of China, which was founded in 1959 and now ranks among the world’s top 10 ballet companies. The ballerinas of the National Ballet of China are now internationally acclaimed for their solid classical ballet training, all-round artistic sensitivity and a delicate style.

While restaging classical works such as “Swan Lake,” “Le Corsaire,” “Giselle,” “Don Quixote” and “Sylvia” every year, much effort was done in producing new repertoire.

The classical pieces lay a solid foundation in classical ballet for the dancers and help them mature in their skill and artistic style, but we need new works to broaden the repertoire as well as to guide Chinese audience to taste something more than “Swan Lake”

Steps in exploring ballet with a Chinese identity will not stop.