Today is the great day of the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the National Ballet of China. So many senior comrades, old friends, senior artists and regular audiences, as well as new friends and new audiences have come to see this performance of special significance. This performance is a spiritual banquet dedicated not only to the birthday of National Ballet of China, but also to the audience. Therefore, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to you first!

This performance told us about the glorious past of National Ballet of China and the proud present of NBC, and also gave us a prospect of a better future of NBC! Your performance has shown us the innovation spirit of NBC, and what impressed us more is that your Company is so rich in talents. This is what enabled the success of the National Ballet of China. Today's performance once again proved that you are worthy of the glorious title of 'National Ballet of China'!

Sincerely, I hope that all members of National Ballet of China will further promote the spirit of NBC and create a more brilliant tomorrow! Happy birthday to National Ballet of China!"

--Luo Shugang, Minister and Secretary of the Party Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Li Qun, Vice Minister and member of the Party Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, stepped onto the stage after watching the Ballet Gala and expressed warm congratulations to all the performers. Minister Luo said to everybody affectionately.

On December 30th, Ballet Gala to Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the National Ballet of China was held in Beijing Tianqiao Theater. Luo Shugang, Minister and Secretary of the Party Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Li Qun, Vice Minister and member of the Party Group of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and other leaders attended the celebration, and watched the performance together with colleagues of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, experts and scholars, international friends and audience friends.

More than 200 dancers and students, three conductors, more than 70 performers of the orchestra and all artists of the stage production department of NBC and the Dance School all participated in the grand and significant Ballet Gala. They offered the sincerest birthday wishes to the National Ballet of China, the great Company which has went through sixty years. Also, they expressed their deepest gratitude to all sectors of society that supported the National Ballet of China.

 

Performing video of the Ballet Gala to Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the National Ballet of China.

It lasts about 7 minutes and 30 seconds and is recommended to watch in Wi-Fi.

Performing video of the Curtain Call Dance of Ballet Gala to Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the National Ballet of China.

It lasts about 40 seconds and is recommended to watch in Wi-Fi

Director Feng Ying was giving an opening speech.

Hosted by Cao Shuci, Momchil Mladenov

 

On the evening of December 29th and 30th, two performances of Ballet Gala to Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the National Ballet of China gathered more than 30 pieces of Chinese and foreign ballet works, demonstrating the strong artistic strength of the National Ballet of China.

 

Excerpts from Swan Lake Act II

Performed by Zhang Jian, Sun Ruichen, etc.

Excerpts from Le Corsaire Act II

Performed by Wang Qimin, Zhan Xinlu, Zhao Xinyue, Li Wentao, Guan Chongzheng

Excerpts from Giselle Act I

Performed by Wang Qimin, Zhang Xi, etc.

Excerpts from The Red Detachment of Women Act II

Performed by Ma Xiaodong, Lu Na, Xie Huan, Zhang Xi, Du Jichao etc.

Passions of Yimeng Pas de Deux 

(Excerpts from Chapter III of Yimeng-A Ballet in Three Chapters)

Performed by Hou Shuang, Wu Siming

Memories

Excerpts from La Fille Mal Gardée

Performed by Ou Mengru, Yu Zeyuan

Excerpts from The Maid of the Sea

Performed by Wang Yi, Bian Chentang

Excerpts from Lin Daiyu

Performed by Zhang Yizhu, Xu Ziyu, Wu Ziheng

Excerpts from The New-Year Sacrifice

Performed by Liu Qi, She Zhaohuan

Excerpts from Little Blue Flower

Performed by Lin Xingbei, Zhang Tiao

Excerpts from Son and Daughter of the Grassland

Performed by Ning Long, Sun Jinjin, Wang Ziwen, Qu Man, Wang Xue'er

Butterfly Lovers Pas de Deux

(Excerpts from The Butterfly Lovers)

Performed by Fang Mengying, Chen Zhuming

The Fourth Movement of The Yellow River

Piano Solo by Xiaotang Tan (Guest)

Performed by Ning Long, Bian Chentang, etc.

Famous pianist Xiaotang Tan was invited to play the fourth movement of The Yellow River.

 

Excerpts from Diamonds(The Third Part of Jewels)

Performed by Xu Yan, Li Wentao, etc.

Music Director: Zhang Yi

 

Excerpts from Prelude

Performed by Guan Wenting, Wu Dianyu

Piano by Yin Yue

 

Excerpts from La Sylphide Act II

Performed by Zhang Yan, Sun Ruichen, etc.

Excerpts from Spring and Fall

Performed by Wang Ye, Ma Xiaodong

Excerpts from Don Quixote Act III

Performed by Qiu Yunting, Fang Mengying, Wu Sicong, Chen Zhuming, etc.

Resident Conductor: Liu Ju

 

Excerpts from Firebird

Performed by Zheng Yu, Bi Ruxin, etc.

Excerpts from The Nine-Colored Deer Act II

Performed by students from the Dance School of NBC

Excerpts from The Crane Calling Act I

Performed by Wu Sicong, She Zhaohuan, Wang Jiyu,

Li Zhuangzhuang, Zhang Xi, Chen Zhuming

Permanent Yesterday

Performed by Liu Xuechen, Li Wentao

Canon in D Major

Performed by Guan Chongzheng, Shen Mengfan, Yan Hualong

Dance of Porcelain

[Excerpts from The Nutcracker (Chinese Version) Act II]

Performed by Xu Yan, Guan Wenting, Chen Zhuming, Sun Haifeng, etc.

Bedroom Pas de Deux

(Excerpts from Carmen)

Performed by Wang Qimin, Sun Ruichen

The Third Movement of Song of Life

Performed by Yan Hualong, etc.

Principle Conductor: Huang Yi

 

Onegin Pas de Deux

(Excerpts from Onegin Act III)

Performed by Zhang Jian, Jason Reilly (Guest)

Dunhuang Flying Apsaras

Performed by Qiu Yunting, Lu Na, Wang Jiyu, Hou Xulei, Wang Yuxuan, etc.

In the warm, moving and united cheer of "Happy Birthday" on and off the stage, the Ballet Gala to Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the National Ballet of China came to an end. This evening, we have reviewed the classic moments and touching scenes in the past 60 years, and would like to thank all the concern, love and support from all walks of life!

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of National Ballet of China, we also received sincere blessings, high praises and earnest encouragements from all walks of life.

Sixty years ago, National Ballet of China was founded. When people were immersed in the joy of establishing a new ballet company and the dream of performing ballet, probably no one had the time to make a grand vision spanning 60 years. What kind of company will it be in 60 years? Will it have its own star artists? Will it produce great classic works through time and space? What role will it play on the world ballet stage? Sixty years past, there are clear answers to all of these questions, and it's very exciting!

-- Feng Shuangbai, the Chairman of China Dancers Association

 

I have admired the National Ballet of China since I was a child. Ballet, like a seed coming to China from the west, is rooted and germinated with the continuous efforts of the National Ballet of China with Chinese culture genes, so that we Chinese people have our own ballet.

-- Pu Cunxin, the Chairman of China Theatre Association

 

In terms of Chinese contemporary dance, National Ballet of China has made great contributions to the world culture.

-- Ye Xiaogang, the Chairman of Chinese Musicians' Association

 

Tonight's performance has shown me the inheritance of generations artists of National Ballet of China, and the vigorous development of NBC, which touched me a lot. I also saw the classic plays, elite teams and exquisite ceremonies of the Company, which is an example for all the national art troupes to move forward.

-- Jiang Kun, the Chairman of Chinese Ballad Singers Association

 

The history of sixty years of the National Ballet of China is the most colorful chapter of Chinese contemporary dance art. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the National Ballet of China, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and high respect to the great Company in my heart!

--Luo Bin, Party Secretary of China Dancers Association

 

On behalf of the National Theatre of China, on behalf of the ten national art troupes, I would like to extend congratulations to the 60th anniversary of the National Ballet of China! Ballet cannot be replaced by any kind of art and must be independent. Pay tribute to ballet art!

-- Zhou Yuyuan, the President of National Theatre of China

 

Beijing Dance Academy and the National Ballet of China are connected so closely and will always be a family. Our strong friendship will never change. I sincerely hope the National Ballet of China have a better future!

--Guo Lei, the President of Beijing Dance Academy

 

There are 16 large-scale shows in Ballet Gala to Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the National Ballet of China. This large-scale display shows the strong artistic strength of the National Ballet of China and Chinese ballet!

--Ou Jianping,

the Honorary Director of Dance Institution of Chinese National Academy of Arts

 

This performance is totally different from any general Gala shows. It demonstrates the past, the present and then the future. It tells the whole history of the National Ballet of China, from which we can see the growth made by generations of the Company, which is very touching.

--Tamas Detrich, artistic director of Stuttgart Ballet

Congratulatory letter from Peking University

Han Meilin, the art master, created an iron sculpture and six paintings with best wishes for the National Ballet of China, with ballet and music as the main elements.

Zhu Legeng, a pottery artist, sent a birthday gift—Chinese Style to the National Ballet of China