On the evening of August 28, the curtain slowly rose as a delicate mist drifted across the stage. To the familiar and lyrical melodies of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, 48 “white swans” glided gracefully into motion. With the theater filled to capacity, more than 1,500 spectators watched in rapt attention as Shanghai Ballet brought its acclaimed production of Swan Lake to The Hague’s World Forum Theater, officially launching the company’s fifth tour of the Netherlands. The performance offered European audiences a distinctive interpretation of one of the world’s most celebrated classical ballets, infused with an Eastern artistic sensibility.

On stage, the corps de ballet unfolded in sweeping formations, extending their arms and turning with remarkable lightness. At times, the swans formed a steadfast barrier, protecting the princess and the prince. At others, they resembled a gentle cocoon, enveloping the tragic lovers in its embrace. Elsewhere, they moved like a solemn and serene ceremonial procession, gliding slowly from the depths of the stage. Through these formations, the production brings together the beauty of classical ballet’s precision and order with a strong sense of movement and fluidity.

The performance received an enthusiastic response from Dutch audiences. Thea, an 81-year-old audience member who studied dance for five years in her youth, said during the interval: “The performance was absolutely spectacular. It was deeply moving and impressive.” She regarded the synchronized, symmetrical and fluid ensemble sequences as among the most memorable visual moments of the production.

Post, a member of the audience from Rotterdam, was particularly touched by the love story portrayed through the dancers’ movements. “The way the dancers reach out, turn away, come closer and separate from one another conveys the hesitation, struggle and helplessness that can accompany love. It is immediate and deeply moving,” he said.

This production of Swan Lake was choreographed and directed by Derek Deane, the renowned British choreographer and former Artistic Director of English National Ballet. It is regarded as one of Shanghai Ballet’s signature productions on the international stage. Following the company’s 2023 performances in the Netherlands, the Dutch national newspaper Trouw praised the production as presenting “one of the most beautiful scenes in ballet history,” highlighting its “grand scale and outstanding technical skill.”

For Shanghai Ballet, performing on the European stage is about more than presenting a world-famous classic. It is also an opportunity for Chinese artists to engage in a deeper dialogue with a masterpiece rooted in the Western classical tradition.

Monika Strotmann, Managing Director of Stardust Holding, the Dutch company that invited Shanghai Ballet to undertake the tour, said: “For Shanghai Ballet to take on an art form so deeply rooted in Europe requires courage, an exceptionally high artistic standard and an enormous amount of dedication.”

Ji Pingping, Director of Shanghai Ballet, said that Chinese artists performing Western classics represents a unique way of telling Chinese stories. “It allows European audiences to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese artistry and to experience the appeal of China’s cultural soft power,” she said.

The tour will bring 30 performances to five Dutch cities—The Hague, Groningen, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Apeldoorn—over a period of 44 days. It is one of the largest and longest tours by a Chinese performing arts institution in the Netherlands in recent years.

The China Cultural Center in The Hague has been closely following the tour and will continue to monitor its reception across the Netherlands. It also looks forward to working with more outstanding Chinese performing arts institutions in the future, building further bridges of cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the people of China and the Netherlands.