Fairy tale dances back

The prologue to Neumeier's The Little Mermaid production, premiered by the Royal Danish Ballet in 2005 to mark the 200th anniversary of Andersen's birth, embodies the poet's longing for a dear friend. During a voyage, when the poet recalls the wedding of his friend, a tear rolls down his cheek and falls into the sea, where it takes the form of a young mermaid.

In September 2012, the National Ballet of China worked with Neumeier to bring the production here. Ten years down the line, the ballet company will stage The Little Mermaid once more－this time at Tianqiao Theater in Beijing from Aug 26 to 30－to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the show's premiere in China and the company's cherished friendship with Neumeier.