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Next week from Jan 3 to 5, at 7pm a special International Ballet Gala will be coming to the Opera House at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA). The show offers a rare opportunity for audiences to immerse themselves in the world of international ballet and is going to be one evening you don't want to miss!
The first ballet production of 2025 at NCPA, the gala brings together ten world-class ballet stars who will perform ten pas de deux – or dance duets – that blend together classical ballet with cutting edge contemporary dance. At the heart of the performance is Julian MacKay. Celebrated worldwide as the "Prince of Ballet," he is known for his extraordinary technique and captivating stage presence.
Julian MacKay:
Bavarian State Ballet - Principal
MacKay's journey is nothing short of legendary. At just 9 years old, he received a scholarship to the American Ballet Theatre in New York and, by 11, was invited to study at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. He became the first American to graduate with a full Russian ballet diploma and holds both a Master's degree in Ballet and a Bachelor's degree in Choreography from Moscow's Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS University). He made his debut at age 17 as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake with the Russian State Ballet to wide critical acclaim.
MacKay will be joined on stage by nine fellow international ballet stars:
Maria Khoreva: Mariinsky Ballet - First Soloist
Kate Kadow: Royal New Zealand Ballet- Principal
Laurynas Vejalis: Royal New Zealand Ballet -Principal
Elisabeth Tonev: Dutch National Ballet - Soloist
Semyon Velichko: Dutch National Ballet – Principal
Elisa Carrillo Cabrera: International Guest Principal Dancer, Staatsballett Berlin – Principal
Mikhail Kaniskin: Staatsballett Berlin - Principal
Liudmila Konovalova: Vienna State Ballet - Principal
Zhang Jinhao: Bavarian State Ballet - Principal
The ten pas de deux that will be showcased will be broken into two acts and will include everything from timeless classics such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake to modern masterpieces like Multiplicity and Ashes.
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You can see the full program of pieces below:
Act One
1. Pas de Deux from The Nutcracker
Music: Peter llyitch Tschaikovsky
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Dancers: Julian MacKay and Maria Khoreva
2. Duet from Multiplicity: Forms of Silence and Emptiness
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Choreography: Nacho Duato
Dancers: Elisa Carillo Cabrera and Mikhail Kaniskin
3. Pas de Deux from Raymonda
Music: Alexander Glazunov
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Dancers: Semyon Velichko and Elisabeth Tonev
4. Pas de Deux from The Flame of Paris
Music: Boris Asafyev
Choreography: Vasily Vainonen
Dancers: Laurynas Vejalis and Kate Kadow
5. Pas de Deux from Renaissance
Music: Felix Mendelssohn
Choreography: Sébastien Bertaud
Dancers: Julian MacKay and Liudmila Konovalova
Act Two
1. Pas de Deux from Le Corsaire
Music: Adolphe Adam
Choreography: Joseph Mazilier
Dancers: Laurynas Vejalis and Kate Kadow
2. Duet from Jeunehomme
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Choreography: Uwe Scholz
Dancers: Elisa Carillo Cabrera and Mikhail Kaniskin
3. Black Swan Pas de Deux from Swan Lake
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Julius Reisinger
Dancers: Zhang Jinhao and Liudmila Konovalova
4. Duet from Embers
Music: Max Richter
Choreography: Ernst Meisner
Dancers: Semyon Velichko and Elizabeth Tonev
5. Pas de Deux from Don Quixote
Music: Ludwig Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Dancers: Julian MacKay and Maria Khoreva
Whether you are an avid ballet enthusiast, art lover or interested in starting the new year by experiencing something you haven't before, the International Ballet Gala promises to be an unforgettable evening of breath-taking performances, artistry and sophistication. You can get your tickets now by scanning the QR code below.
Scan here to buy tickets
The International Ballet Gala will take place at the Opera House, National Centre for the Performing Arts at 7pm, Jan 3-5. Tickets are RMB 180-1,080 and can be purchased by scanning the QR code below.
Scan here to buy tickets
Opera House, National Centre For The Performing Arts (NCPA) 国家大剧院·歌剧院
2 Chang'an Jie, Xicheng District
西城区西长安街2号
Images: courtesy of NCPA
Paid for by NCPA
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