The classic ballet “Eugene Onegin” was staged in Beijing.

A scene from the China National Ballet’s production of “Onegin.” [Photo provided by China Daily]

Dancers from the National Ballet of China performed the three-act classical ballet “Onegin” in Beijing from December 16 to 19. One of the world’s greatest ballets, it is adapted from Alexander Pushkin’s novel “Eugene Onegin.” The performance was part of the ongoing Fifth China International Ballet Season.

Onegin was originally choreographed by John Cranko for the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany and premiered in 1965.

In 2008, Reid Anderson, Artistic Director of the Stuttgart Ballet, trained dancers from the National Ballet of China in Beijing and, that same year, performed at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Anderson conducted online rehearsals with Chinese dancers this time.

Ballet dancers Zhang Jian and Ma Xiaodong star in the leading roles.

(From ChinaDaily)