The 3rd Suzhou International Ballet Festival kicked off in SIP this month with the opening performance given by Suzhou Ballet Theatre at the Grand Theatre of Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre on Oct 3 and 4.

The performance encompassed three ballets. “Serenade”, an original ballet created in 1934 by George Balanchine, the legendary choreographer who founded the New York City Ballet and created over 425 ballets, has received high praise from the audiences when it was staged by Suzhou Ballet Theatre in Suzhou in June and then in Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing.

Another one was “Concerto Grosso”, a work by Helgi Tomasson, one of the most venerated classical dancers of his generation who once led the San Francisco Ballet and choreographed more than 50 works for it.

The third one is “Please Remember Me”, a work created by Helgi Tomasson for the ballet festival.

October 4, 2024