Ballet star Svetlana Zakharova brings 'Amore' to China

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In a classic and modern ballet feast, intertwined with a beautiful symphony that spans time and style, Svetlana Zakharova, together with stars from the Bolshoi Theater, showcased the Chinese premiere of "Amore" at Beijing's Tianqiao Theater from November 17 to 19, 2018.

The show embraces different types of choreography in three distinct dances.

“Why 'Amore'? It's simply because the whole project is expressing love, different love. All three works have their own styles. The reason why 'Amore' can achieve such great success in the world is not only because of its good performance, but also because the audience can find their favorite style in the whole dance," said Zakharova.

Dancers perform the "Amore." /Photo courtesy of the Tianqiao Theater

The first ballet, "Francesca Da Rimini," is based on Dante's "Divine Comedy" about the tragic love story between young Francesca and Paolo. Accompanied by Tchaikovsky's symphonic poem, the dancers wowed the audience with their technique and storytelling.

The second show, "The Rain Before It Falls," was specially created for Zakharova. The abstract choreography allows the ballerina to perform in a completely different and unexpected way.

The third dance, "Strokes Through the Tail," added some humor into ballet. The choreographer believes that the dance is like a game of life, where everyone has their own unique quirks.

"We are very happy to have such an opportunity to come to the Tianqiao Theater to showcase this project in cooperation with Zakharova. This is a very unusual project, demonstrated by a new experience and a new way of creating," according to Yuri Baranov, producer of “Amore.”

A towering figure in 21st-century ballet, Svetlana Zakharova is as famous for her sublime interpretations of the great classical roles and her embrace of contemporary choreography.

A ballerina performing a split jump during the performance. /Photo courtesy of the Tianqiao Theater

She was promoted to principal dancer at the age of 18. Since 2001, Zakharova has frequently appeared as a principal guest artist with various companies including Tokyo, Paris, Rome, Milan, Vienna, and New York.

Since its debut in Italy in 2016, "Amore" has been staged in famous theaters in Russia, Japan and the United Kingdom. The appearance at the Tianqiao Theater is the fifth stop of the "Amore" global performance and its premiere in China.

"We want to bring the world's top theaters and stars to our Tianqiao Theater, and showcase the best art in the world to Chinese audiences. I think that China and Russia have a long-standing relationship. We want to enhance the friendship between the two peoples through in-depth cultural exchanges," said Wang Quanxing, deputy director of the National Ballet of China.

(Top image: Dancers perform the "Amore."/Photo courtesy of the Tianqiao Theater)