Acrobatic Swan Lake dazzles UK audience

The classic ballet Swan Lake, adored by audiences worldwide, has been brought to life by a Chinese acrobatic troupe on a London stage.

The Xi'an Acrobatic Troupe put their own twist on the classic, offering a radical makeover by combining the traditional ballet with acrobatics. Gravity-defying moves, contortions, and shoulder balancing…all woven seamlessly into the show.

"I need to seamlessly combine emotion with skills,"said Zhang Yina, the ballerina who plays the role of the white swan. "Through my performance, I want to express the white swan's loneliness, sadness and her mixed emotions when meeting the prince.”

One of the highlights of the performance is the white swan dancing en pointe on top of the prince's head and shoulders.

The performance requires strong physical and mental strength, with many of the dancers starting arduous training during childhood.

"As the prince, the most challenging part is when the princess stands on my shoulder or on my head," says Zhou Jie, Leading Actor of the show. "We have been practicing for years and through trial and error we made it. We are very pleased to bring Chinese acrobatics here.”

The new adaptation tells a story that is slightly different to that of the ballet classic, with many of the scenes showing a fusion of cultures.

In the Chinese acrobatic Swan Lake, a European prince falls in love with a Chinese swan, while the famous dance of the four little swans is played by men representing four little frogs – who perform the entire dance on their arms.

"The highlight of this show is we interpret the classic dance with acrobatics, which have been a part of Chinese culture for centuries," said Zhang Quan, Leader of Xi'an Acrobatic Troupe. "We'd like the world to see our innovation, and the development of Chinese art."

Swan Lake has always been a timeless classic adored by audiences globally, with its first production premiered in Moscow in 1877. Over the years, it has evolved with many interpretations while its timeless essence stays.

"I think the enduring appeal and charm of Swan Lake is – it is a classic based on a love story, and how love overcomes evil. It's set to a great score by Tchaikovsky, it's a spectacle. It's people performing at a very high level, no matter what their genre is," said Donald Huera, critic at the UK's The Times newspaper.

The classic tale has been performed in China for decades, but this new interpretation has turned Tchaikovsky's masterpiece inside out. The performance aims to transcend cultural boundaries and leave the audience in awe.

It's a breath of fresh air for the classic tale and the universal language of creative musical expression, with a rousing finale worthy of the great Tchaikovsky himself.

Subscribe to Storyboard: A weekly newsletter bringing you the best of CGTN every Friday