00:00Gravity-defying moves, contortions, and shoulder balancing, all woven seamlessly into the show.
00:12It's Swan Lake, but not as we know it.
00:15The Xi'an acrobatic troupe put their own twist on the classic, offering a radical makeover
00:20by combining the traditional ballet with acrobatics.
00:25I need to seamlessly combine emotion with skills.
00:29Through my performance, I want to express the white swan's loneliness, sadness, and
00:34her mixed emotions when meeting the prince.
00:37The performance requires strong physical and mental strength, with many of the dancers
00:42undertaking arduous training since childhood.
00:45As the prince, the most challenging part is when the princess stands on my shoulder or
00:52on my head.
00:53We've been practicing for years, and through trial and error, we made it.
00:57We are very pleased to bring Chinese acrobatics here.
01:03The story is slightly different to the ballet classic, with many of the scenes showing
01:08a fusion of cultures.
01:10The highlight of this show is we interpret the classic dance with Chinese acrobatics,
01:16which have been part of Chinese culture for centuries.
01:20We'd like the world to see our innovation and the development of Chinese art.
01:27The first production of Swan Lake premiered in Moscow in 1877.
01:32Over the years, it has evolved with many interpretations, while its timeless essence stays.
01:38I think the enduring appeal and charm of Swan Lake is it is a classic based on a love story
01:45and how love overcomes evil.
01:47It is set to a great score by Tchaikovsky, and it's also a spectacle.
01:53The classic tale has been performed in China for decades, but this new interpretation has
01:59turned Tchaikovsky's masterpiece inside out.
02:03The performance aims to transcend the cultural boundaries and leave the audience in awe.
02:09A robotic Swan Lake, which is what it says on the tin, is exactly it.
02:15So some of the tricks are really, really impressive.
02:18The stage presence, the gliding across it is just phenomenal anyway, so well pleased anyway.
02:24The acrobatics is amazing, yes, fantastic.
02:29A breath of fresh air for the classic tale and the universal language of creative musical
02:35expression, with a rousing finale worthy of the great Tchaikovsky himself.
02:41Wang Xiwei, CGGM, London.
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