Chongqing - The premiere of Chongqing Ballet Troupe's original ballet production, The Pursuit of Shangri-La, captivated the audience in Esbjerg, Denmark, on September 2nd. Held at the Esbjerg Music Hall, the performance received thunderous applause and widespread acclaim, with the audience erupting in cheers throughout the evening. The event was attended by Wang Xuefeng, the Chinese Ambassador to Denmark, along with his wife Tong Xin, and Esbjerg's Deputy Mayor Nicolaj Aarøe, who both spoke highly of the breathtaking performance of the opening night.

Stage photo of The Pursuit of Shangri-La. (Photo/Chongqing Ballet Troupe)

Chongqing Ballet Troupe's venture into Denmark, a country with a deep-rooted ballet tradition, symbolizes a cultural exchange that bridges East and West through ballet as a universal artistic language. By infusing Chinese cultural elements into ballet, the production conveys unique Chinese cultural values and showcases the distinctive character of Chongqing.

Founded in 2012, Chongqing Ballet Troupe is the only professional ballet troupe in Southwest China dedicated to the country's high-quality development of ballet art. The Pursuit of Shangri-La is one of its flagship productions, depicting the story of a painter who loses himself in the materialistic world only to find redemption through his journey to the mystical Shangri-La with a pure Tibetan girl. The ballet production intertwines romanticism with Tibetan cultural elements, such as the Kham dance, Reba drums, and golden Buddha statues, creating an enchanting experience for overseas audiences. 

Stage photo of The Pursuit of Shangri-La. (Photo/Chongqing Ballet Troupe)

Denmark, a stronghold of European ballet, has a rich history in the art form, with the Danish school being one of the six major ballet traditions in the world. Chongqing Ballet Troupe ingeniously employs the universal language of ballet to narrate a far-away story, blending Tibetan culture with romanticism that permeates Western ballet and other art forms as well. This fusion of styles and cultures within a universal artistic form resonated deeply with the Danish audience, demonstrating how art transcends cultural boundaries and how Chinese culture can be made accessible to oversee audiences.

The production received positive feedback from various sectors of Danish society. Danish audiences acclaimed the dancers' technical virtuosity and its introduction of Chongqing as a cultured modern city: "Chongqing has been well-known in the world for its light rail and skyscrapers - this production shows the city's international cultural tastes."

Leif Lønsmann Larsen, the former General Manager of the Concert Hall of the Danish National Broadcasting Corporation, expressed his heartfelt feelings after attending the performance: "Over the past four years, Denmark has twice invited this production for a tour, but due to various reasons, it did not happen. This year, we sent another invitation and have long awaited this day. Congratulations on the tremendous success of the production!"

Stage photo of The Pursuit of Shangri-La. (Photo/Chongqing Ballet Troupe)

The troupe’s tour in Denmark will continue, with performances scheduled in Aarhus, Holstebro, and Vejle. The highlight of the tour will be the appearance of the production at the Aarhus Festival, Scandinavia’s largest cultural event.