Boris Eifman's iconic ballet company, the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg, will tour China this November, bringing its emotionally charged productions Anna Karenina and Beyond Sin to China.

By visiting several Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou in Jiangsu province, and Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, the ballet company captivates its global audiences by fusing choreography, psychology, and philosophy.

Eifman, 79, continues his deep dive into the complexities of human emotions, using dance to explore themes of passion, inner conflict and spiritual crisis.

"Over the years, we've developed a special connection with Chinese audiences," says Eifman. "Their emotional openness and warmth never cease to amaze me. Our production of Anna Karenina is so beloved here that it rivals Swan Lake in popularity. China has become a home for our works, and we are always welcomed with standing ovations."

Eifman believes that ballet transcends cultural and language barriers. "Dance is a universal language of spiritual communion," he says. "It speaks directly to the soul, bypassing the complexities of language and cultural differences. When people experience genuine emotion through performance, it connects them on a profound level."

This connection is evident during the ongoing tour, where the ballet company continues to build on its following across China. With sold-out performances, the company's emotionally charged storytelling has captured the imagination of local theatergoers, who are eager for more than just technical spectacle — they seek the raw, unfiltered emotion that Eifman's works evoke.

Anna Karenina stands as one of Eifman's most celebrated creations. His ballet adaptation of Tolstoy's tragic novel brings the complex inner world of Anna, torn between love, duty, and passion, to life onstage.

Equally powerful is Beyond Sin, Eifman's reimagining of The Brothers Karamazov, the final novel of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, which delves into the moral collapse and spiritual struggles of the Karamazov family.

Eifman's relationship with China has blossomed over the years, and he sees great promise for the future of ballet in the country.

"Chinese ballet is on an impressive trajectory," he observes. "The dancers are becoming internationally renowned for their technical excellence and passion. There is an incredible appetite for new, modern ballet, and we are thrilled to be part of this growing cultural exchange."

The Eifman Ballet is also working closely with the Beijing Dance Academy, fostering new talent and sharing expertise with the next generation of Chinese dancers.

Born in 1946 in Siberia, Eifman, from early childhood, wanted to express his feelings and thoughts through body language and dance.

He studied in the Leningrad Conservatory's choreography department, and then at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, where he worked as a choreographer for a decade.

In 1977, Eifman formed his own ballet ensemble, the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg, originally called the Leningrad New Ballet. In 2027, the company will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

He would later say, "For me, ballet is more than a profession. It is a means of existence; my mission on this earth. Using its resources, I am compelled to convey what is given to me at a high level. Most likely, I would simply suffocate on my emotions, if I didn't have the ability to express them through art. To me, choreography is an art that is deeply religious, in the broadest sense of the word."

When asked how he maintains his artistic passion and motivation, Eifman says: "The formula is simple: relentless, unending work. No self-pity, no fabricated justifications for idleness."

"You must plunge into the flames and, consumed by them, resurrect yourself from the ashes time and again. I am nearly 80 years old, yet, I work daily from early morning until late evening. I spend hours rehearsing in the ballet studio with my dancers, listening to countless musical pieces, and studying materials related to upcoming productions. This has been my rhythm for decades. Physical strength and health don't increase with age, but creative ideas literally overflow within me today. The more you give, the more you ultimately receive. This is a universal law," he says.