Ballet's birthday party

The National Ballet of China (NBC) is heralding the anniversary of its Chinese classic The Peony Pavilion at Tianqiao Theater by changing it. The story, written by Tang Xianzu in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), starts with a dream of the female lead, Du Liniang. Du falls in love with Liu Mengmei, whom she has never met in real life. The ballet conveys a message of young people's longing for romance.

Choreographer Fei Bo says he has changed the end of Act One and the whole of Act Two.

"The new version focuses more on ballet. The language of the body and dance are aimed at expressing Du's emotions," he says.