Shanghai Ballet set to debut its rendition of theater classic

Shanghai Ballet recently invited members of the media to an open rehearsal of its upcoming new production The Phantom of the Opera.

Created by British choreographer Derek Deane, the ballet based on the 1910s French novel by Gaston Leroux (1868-1927) will premiere at the Shanghai International Dance Center on May 11.

"This is the seventh project Maestro Deane has created for Shanghai Ballet," said Xin Lili, director of the company. "His previous creation of Hamlet for Shanghai Ballet won the Lotus Award, the national award for dance in China. Phantom is a large production of strong dramatic conflict."

Lead dancer Wu Husheng said that portraying the disfigured phantom has been a cathartic process.

"There is the dark and violent aspect, and also the loving, tender and fragile side. Presenting such rich emotional colors has brought great satisfaction for me as an artist," he said.

The 37-year ballet dancer added that he was lucky to come across such a beautiful production at the right time of his career, saying, "We dancers tend to have a quite short life on the stage, and I cherish every opportunity when I am able to create a new character."

According to Qi Bingxue, the ballerina that plays the heroine Christina, Phantom is the combination of modern dance and classical ballet, and the dramatic expressions and complicated feelings are challenging and fulfilling at the same time.

"Christine is frightened when she sees for the first time the Phantom after he removes his mask, but at the same time she can feel his pain, and wants to understand him and embrace him," Qi said about her character.