The Australian Ballet's Brett Chynoweth writes from the company's 24th international tour. Whilst on tour the Australian Ballet will perform at two major festivals in China,the 2015 Dance Festival of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, and Shanghai International Arts Festival.
Dear Dance Australia readers
Hello from epic Beijing!
I'm writing to you on the eve of our first performance at the enormous and majestic National Centre for the Performing Arts in central Beijing.
Tomorrow we open the first of three ballets that the Australian Ballet will perform in China. The theatre here is incredible, possibly the biggest stage we have performed on. Luckily, the repertoire we have brought is up for the challenge: epic love and drama with Graeme Murphy's Swan Lake and one of my favourite one-acts, the stately and exciting tutu ballet Suite en Blanc as part of our "Mixed Bill".
Besides preparation for the shows and the performances themselves, dancers are exploring the city (at times getting lost!) and enjoying the local food and culture.
Just today, with my friends principal artists Ako Kondo and Chengwu Guo, I did a photo shoot with the wonderful photographer Lisa Tomasetti in Tiananmen Square. It was, of course, bustling and full of people. But once we prepared to shoot (in costumes I might add) the people cleared a space for us. They took photos, cheered when we did a big lift or jump and were so patient and generous!
Can't wait to share our work and passion with Chinese audiences, I hope they like it.
Brett Chynoweth
Above: Brett at the Great Wall of China. Photo: Lisa Tomasetti.