“Bravo，Bravo…” with such constant cheers, applause and whistle from audience, Qiu Yuting and Sun Ruichen completed their premiere of Carmen, thus the performance of National Ballet of China in the Portuguese “Chinese Culture Festival” came to an end.
This is the first time for the National Ballet of China to make a visiting tour in Portugal since its founding 60 years ago. In Lisbon and Porto, artists of National Ballet of China staged three different styles of ballet works: the romantic ballet masterpiece Giselle Act II, Chinese ballet The Yellow River and the world-renowned choreographer Roland Petit' s Carmen. 

According to Mr. Bonino, assistant of Roland Petit, it is the first time that Carmen is staged in Portugal after more than 5,000 performances in the world. It is National Ballet of China who has accomplished this historical mission.

Carmen is of great importance for National Ballet of China. When Roland Petit was invited to Beijing in May 2005, Zhao Ruheng, then Director of NBC, had been waiting for him for 12 years with great efforts. At the age of 81 (born on January 13th, 1924), "Grandpa" Roland went to the Company and began a three-day trial for the casting. In July, he began to rehearse the three works Carmen, L’ Arlesienne and Le Jeune Homme et la mort, which were premiered in China on November 10th, 2005.

In November 2005, after the performance of L’ Arlesienne, Le Jeune Homme et la mort and Carmen, the French choreographer Roland Petit came on stage to call the curtain with artists of National Ballet of China.

“Carmen” by Zhu Yan and “Don José” by Yu Bo

Roland Petit rehearsed for Zhu Yan and Yu Bo

 Roland Petit’ s Pink Flyod Ballet

Pink Flyod Ballet by Zhu Yan and Yu Bo

Pink Flyod Ballet by Wang Qimin and Li Jun

Pink Flyod Ballet by Zhang Jian and Li Ke

The Last Paradise by Zhang Jian and Zhou Zhaohui, which is speciallychoreographed for this two dancers of National Ballet of China by Roland Petit

Under the great efforts of the Company led by Director Feng Ying,Roland Petit’ s La Chauve-Souris was premiered in Beijing on September11^th, 2014.

Premiere of La Chauve-Souris on September 11^th,2014

Ulrich by Manuel Legris (Then the Artistic Director of ViennaState Opera Ballet)

Bella by Wang Qimin and Johann by Sun Ruichen

On March 27^th, 2019, Prima Ballerina Wang Qimin andPremier Danseur Ma Xiaodong co-starred in Carmen on the stage of Porto.

On March 31^st, 2019, Principal Dancers QiuYunting and Sun Ruichen completed their premiere of Carmen on the stage of theTeatro Camões in Lisbon.

Xu Gang

AssistantArtistic Director, General Répétiteurs, Ballet Master of National Ballet of China

March 31^st, 2019, in Lisbon