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'Swan Lake' takes an acrobatic twist
By Chen Jie (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-09 06:31 Need for innovation
Ning has been devoted to acrobatics for more than 50 years since he started
to learn it from his father at the age of five.
Over the years, he has been exposed to and learned from the international
circus greats and magic and dance productions whenever he toured around the
world with his troupe.
His ambition is to produce a brand new theatrical work featuring drama, dance
and acrobatics.
"Chinese acrobatics have a long and prosperous history, and today Chinese
acrobats also keep winning numerous international awards every year with their
routines and stunts," he said.
"But what embarrasses us is people at home do not appreciate acrobatics as
much as they did before," Ning said.
Ning cited a few reasons, which he called "complicated."
First, the programmes are often recreated from old routines, so they are no
longer fresh in appealing to contemporary audiences. Then the music, costumes,
props and lighting are below the standards of other theatrical productions today
in China, Ning explained.
"Chinese acrobatics badly need drastic innovation to make a breakthrough,"
Ning said. "It should be a revolution rather than borrowing a bit from this or
that art genre."
Veteran choreographer Zhao said he agrees with Ning's analysis and accepted
the challenge. But the task was by no means easy.
"This acrobatic version of 'Swan Lake' has been the creation that challenges
me the most so far in my career," said Zhao. He has succeeded with quite a few
popular dance works, including "Farewell My Concubine" and "A Dream of Red
Mansions," in collaboration with Shanghai City Dance Company.
"It is such a famous ballet that fans know Tchaikovsky's score well, and many
fans even know Odette's every movement," he said. "But what I do may subvert the
classic. Many friends thought I was crazy when I accepted the commission, and
said it was a mission impossible."
While working on the choreography, Zhao did meet various expected and
unexpected challenges.
For example, lacking in music and dance training, the acrobats could hardly
follow his choreography. The Tchaikovsky's score is perfect for ballet but too
difficult as the accompaniment for acrobatics.
Above all, none of the acrobats could dance on pointe.
Thanks to the help of the acrobatic directors of the troupe, Zhao finally
overcame all the difficulties and combined ballet and acrobatics to create a
fresh and original four-act adaptation of this tragic tale.
In March, the acrobatic version of "Swan Lake" made its debut at Shanghai
Grand Theatre.
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