Original ballet productions hit Tianqiao Theater

Dancers perform in ballet "Yanshi". (Xinhua)

Three ballet productions have been staged at Beijing's Tianqiao Theater this week, with the spotlight on the younger generation of dancers and choreographers. The three pieces are the result of the Ballet Workshop launched by the National Ballet of China back in 2010.

"Yanshi," a ballet production by Wang Sizheng, is inspired by a fantasy story from the Western Zhou Dynasty centuries ago. Dancers don silky white costumes that take the packed house back to ancient China.

The second piece, entitled "Three Inch Golden Lotus" is adapted from contemporary Chinese writer Feng Jicai's eponymous novel. The ballet is choreographed by Zhang Zhenxin, which centers around the foot binding custom popular among Chinese women in the past. It was once believed that foot binding was a symbol of beauty for women. The smaller one's feet were, the more likely they were to marry into a wealthy family.

Choreographer Fei Bo's piece is based on Shakespeare's "Hamlet," saluting the all time classic.

The Ballet Workshop provides abundant opportunities for young talents to exchange ideas and improve their dancing techniques.

"The Ballet Workshop helps to not only cultivate young talent, but also to promote ballet among a wider audience," said the director of National Ballet of China Feng Ying.

Participating dancers say that everyone has benefited from the project, in which they inspire and learn from each other, and are able to put their work to the test.