National Ballet of China wins awards in DPRK

The closing ceremony of the 31st April Spring Friendship Art Festival was held in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, April 17, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

The closing ceremony of the 31st April Spring Friendship Art Festival was held on April 17 in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Chinese art troupe, led by Song Tao, head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, won many important awards. The National Ballet of China won "Special Award for the Group".

Kim Jong-un, top leader of the DPRK,, and his wife Ri Sol-ju watched the ballet The Red Detachment of Women performed by the National Ballet of China.

Kim went to the stage after the performance, gave congratulations on its success and took a photo with the actors. After watching another ballet, Giselle, Ri Sol-ju praised the performance by the Chinese artists, and the Korean audience also responded with thunderous applause. The two ballet performances won gold prizes at the festival.

Feng Ying, president and art director of the National Ballet of China, paid her first visit to the DPRK for the performance, but she know a lot about Korean culture and art — especially Korean dances, operas and films — because she was born in Jilin province, close to the country.

The closing ceremony of the 31st April Spring Friendship Art Festival was held in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, April 17, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

"When we got off the plane, I was very moved by the warm welcome of Korean people." Feng said.

"And we feel honored to be cultural ambassadors promoting Chinese culture to the world."

The National Ballet of China was founded on Dec 31, 1959. The company employs over 70 dancers cultivated by professional colleges and universities, many of whom have won gold, silver and bronze medals at various international ballet competitions.

The company introduced classic western ballets to China, including Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppélia, The Sleeping Beauty and Pas de Quatre. It also produced many Chinese ballets, like The Red Detachment of Women, Raise the Red Lantern, Song of the Yimeng Mountain, and The Peony Pavilion.

Over the past 60 years, the National Ballet has also made remarkable achievements in personnel training and ballet popularization. As a famous ballet troupe with extensive international influence, the National Ballet of China plays an important role as a messenger for cultural exchange and a window into the Chinese condition.