Best bets

Grand Theater de Geneve Ballet Company: Romeo and Juliet

Date: Sept 11-12 - 7:30 pm

Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts

When the Geneva Ballet's director, Philippe Cohen, met Swiss-born, Paris-based choreographer Joelle Bouvier a few years ago to discuss a possible collaboration, he asked her what project she would most like to do. I told him I wanted to create a new Romeo and Juliet with the music of Prokofiev, she recounts. And he said, But how extraordinary. That is exactly what I wanted you to do. The result is a minimalist version of the Shakespeare story, performed to three orchestral suites taken from Prokofiev's ballet score. Gone are the parents, gone is the priest, gone even is the nurse. What remains are the two central stories, which give different takes on love and loyalty: the tragic story of the two teenage lovers from rival families at war, and the tragic battle between Juliet's cousin Tybalt and Romeo's best friend, Mercutio.

Guangdong Song & Dance Ensemble: Dance Drama The Past of Shawan

Date: Sept 1-2 - 7:30 pm

Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts

The Past of Shawan is a full-length original dance drama that takes place in the ancient town of Shawan in Guangdong during the 1930s. Centered on the three eminent He brothers who are regarded as the heirs of Guangdong music, the drama revolves around the musical spirit passed down the generations. This is seen in the classical composition, "Dragon Boat Racing", in which dance elements are deployed to reveal the development of this legendary tale. Lyrical and lively dance segments present a love story of classic Guangdong music. An engrossing storyline, a novel storytelling format, fluid dance performances, exquisite choreography, heartwarming musical classics and a colorful stage set combine to present the audience with a splendid and inspiring epic of Guangdong music.

Aristophanes' Comedy: The Birds in Beijing

Date: Sept 1-8 - 7:30 pm

Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts

In February 2008, during China's "Year of Greek Culture," an original Greek version of Aristophanes' comedy, The Birds, a work of many mainstream Greek artists, was staged at the NCPA, and met with great acclaim. Now, ten years later, the NCPA gives a new rendition of The Birds, in the interest of fostering the classical arts and passing on its cultural legacy. Written by Aristophanes, the ancient Greek "Father of Comedy," and first performed in 414 BC, The Birds is the only extant comedy with mythological themes and the most fanciful. The play focuses on the establishment of a bird kingdom in the sky, cleverly weaving together myths and legends relating to birds. The plot forms an organic whole that is well-rounded, and imaginative. It not only criticized the faults of the contemporary society at that time but also relates an ardent wish for the creation of an ideal world. Chinese theater director, Luo Jinlin, and cross-cultural researcher, Tong Luo, are teaming up with the NCPA Drama Ensemble members to stage a marvelous rendition to unite Greek drama with native Chinese culture. The bird is an ancient Greek symbol, which is associated with astrology. It's considered to be a bridge between heaven and the world of humans since most can fly and some live on the ground.