AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE TO MAKE
HISTORIC VISIT TO BEIJING, NOVEMBER 12-15, 2009

Engagement Marks First Performances by American Ballet Company at Newly Constructed National Centre for the Performing Arts


American Ballet Theatre will give six performances in Beijing, China, November 12-15, 2009, it was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. The tour represents ABT’s first visit to China’s capital city and the first performances by an American ballet company at the recently constructed National Centre for the Performing Arts, also known as The Egg.

American Ballet Theatre’s Beijing engagement includes four performances of the full-length ballet Don Quixote, staged by Kevin McKenzie and Susan Jones, with choreography after Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky. Two repertory programs of works from the Company’s Avery Fisher Hall season (October 7-10) will also be presented. Ballets on the repertory program include works by Aszure Barton, Benjamin Millepied and ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky.

American Ballet Theatre previously performed in Hong Kong and Shanghai in 2000.

I noticed that the ABT has a tour package on offer on its website, to visit China (including Xian and the Terracotta Warriors) while the ABT is touring there:

http://www.abt.org/pdfs/2009PatronTourChina.pdf

I can't make this particular tour (and the tour is, not unexpectedly, on the expensive side), but I wonder if the ABT has offered this type of travel package in the past, with the ABT company tour of foreign countries?

I don't know how reliable this is, but Hallberg's website indicates he is performing Don Quixote on Nov 13, 14 and 15 in China.

http://www.davidhallberg.com/calendar/inde...=11&ye=2009

Also, some interesting December events in Europe (not apparently with the ABT, although with Gillian).

Local TV commercial spot for ABT at the National Theater in Beijing:

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTI1MTYwMzIw.html

From the National Theatre website, some pictures from the dress rehearal and press conference

http://www.chncpa.org/n16/n2279/n2297920/3089528.html

http://www.chncpa.org/n16/n2279/n2297920/3084131.html

It was been announced on the National Theatre website, that Cory Stearns has been replaced by David Hallberg on the 14th matinee due to illness, and on the evening of 15th, the leads change by the act.

1st act Gillian Murphy and David Hallberg
2nd act Michelle Wiles and Cory Stearns
3rd act Yuriko Kajiya and Daniil Simkin

http://www.chncpa.org/n16/n2279/n2297920/3099560.html

naomikage, thanks so much for posting these links. I enjoyed the pictures, and the amusing translations my computer attempted of the various articles related to ABT's performances in Beijing.

Please let me know if anyone wants a translation of the articles. Thus far they've seemed like translated press releases and rehashed itineraries. The press conference in Beijing a few posts up talks about the administration 'eagerly anticipating' a 'next time' in China, but that's probably just your PR at work.