Shanghai Ballet recently announced that two classic ballet productions, The White-Haired Girl and The Lady of the Camellias, will be staged at the Grand Theater of the New Bund 31 Performing Arts Center starting Feb 22.

The White-Haired Girl and the adaptation of the world-renowned classic The Lady of the Camellias will allow audiences to appreciate the unique artistic charm of Shanghai Ballet, while continuing to promote the preservation and renewal of classics.

The Chinese original ballet The White-Haired Girl is a flagship production of Shanghai Ballet. After its debut in 1964, the show underwent continuous revisions and was later adapted into a popular movie. Over the years, it has been performed at home and abroad and celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2024.

The story takes place during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). On Chinese New Year's Eve, the villainous landlord Huang Shiren forces the peasant Yang Bailao to pay debts, killing him and taking his daughter, Xi'er, as a slave. Xi'er escapes into the mountains, fighting against wild animals and harsh conditions, and in her suffering, her once black hair turns gray. Eventually, she is rescued by the CPC-led Eighth Route Army and is reborn.

This production is hailed as a perfect blend of Western ballet art and a characteristically Chinese story. At 2,000 performances, it is one of the most performed ballets in China.

Date: Feb 22, 7:30 pm

Venue: New Bund 31 Performing Arts Center

Location: No 777 West Gaoqing Road, Pudong New Area

Scan the QR code to purchase tickets.

In 2019, Shanghai Ballet launched a new version of the ballet The Lady of the Camellias, based on the novel by French author Alexandre Dumas. The production was choreographed by British ballet master Derek Deane.

Using a flashback technique, the story begins with the dying moments of the heroine, leading into the passionate yet troubled love story between her and the male lead. Carl Davis, known for his work on the BBC's Pride and Prejudice, composed the score, bringing an intense and rich dramatic expression to the performance and creating a completely new auditory experience.

Date: Feb 28 – March 1, 7:30 pm

Venue: New Bund 31 Performing Arts Center

Location: No 777 West Gaoqing Road, Pudong New Area

Scan the QR code to purchase tickets.

Source: Shanghai Ballet