In brief
On Saturday night, November 9, Shanghai Ballet brought its version of China’s classic love story, The Butterfly Lovers, to a nearly full house at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts. The production blended classical ballet with Chinese folk music and costumes, earning praise from audience members for its emotional climax. Local attendees noted the striking visuals and the poignant portrayal of the tragic romance.
On Saturday night, November 9, Shanghai Ballet presented its rendition of The Butterfly Lovers—China’s counterpart to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet—at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax, Virginia, attracting an audience near the venue’s 2,000‑seat capacity.
The under‑armour of the performance was a blend of western classical ballet technique and Chinese folkloric storytelling, underscored by the haunting violin concerto of the same name. Dancers transformed the tragic love of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai into a soaring choreography that culminated in a spectacular butterfly metamorphosis, while the sets and costumes remained vivid and colorful.
“They really enjoyed the show,” Rocco Benevento, a 66‑year‑old truck driver, told Xinhua, adding that the final scene in which the lovers turn into butterflies was especially special. “The colors, all the costumes were phenomenal. They put a lot of effort into it.”
Ana, a local high‑school student, said that the Chinese elements made the production different from other ballets she had seen and that she liked it for its interest. “It’s a lot different than a lot of other ballets I’ve watched before, but I like it. It’s very interesting to watch,” she shared with Xinhua.
Marion, another audience member who had familiarized herself with the legend beforehand, said the storyline was easy to follow and beautifully executed. “I read the story. It was easy to understand, and it was done very beautifully,” he said.
