Shanghai Ballet stages new 'Swan Lake'

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THE Shanghai Ballet will debut its original production of "Swan Lake" by renowned English choreographer Derek Deane on January 18-19 at Shanghai Culture Square.

For its premiere, the ballet has invited two famous guest stars, principal dancer Friedemann Vogel of the Stuttgart Ballet and principal dancer Maria Yakovleva of the Vienna State Ballet. Vogel is German and Yakovleva was born in Russia.

"They are very young and talented and we will have four leading dancers from three countries. They will be shining stars," said Xin Lili, director of the Shanghai Ballet. The two other dancers are Chinese.

Deane was artistic director of the English National Ballet from 1993 to 2001.

This is the second collaboration between Deane and the Shanghai Ballet after their successful "The Nutcracker" was staged in 2010 and performed for three years.

"Derek Deane is an excellent classical choreographer and very accomplished artistically," Xin said.

Vogel trained at the John Cranko Schule and has won several international ballet competitions, including the 1997 Prix de Lausanne. He joined the Stuttgart Ballet in 1998 and was promoted to principal dancer in 2002.

Yakovleva, born in St Petersburg, graduated from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in 2004 and danced at the Mariinsky Theater for one season. She joined the Vienna State Ballet and became principal dancer in 2010.

This production of "Swan Lake" will be staged again in Shanghai later in the year.

"Swan Lake" is the world's most popular ballet and this version is one of four in Shanghai at this season.



Date: January 18-19, 7:15pm

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square,

36 Yongjia Rd

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