Dancing red

The revolutionary ballet The Red Detachment of Women is a Chinese classic. Now in its 50th year, it is touring the country and proving to be as relevant and as popular as ever. Chen Nan reports.

Zhang Jian has performed as Wu Qionghua, the lead role of The Red Detachment of Women, more times than she can count. "I've done it at least 100 times," the National Ballet of China principal ballerina says.

"Technique isn't a problem. But it was very challenging doing the choreography developed under the supervision of Chairman Mao's wife, Jiang Qing. What I initially found difficult was portraying a 1930s-era woman soldier. But the more I perform her role, the better I understand her."

The Chinese ballet The Red Detachment of Women is touring the country to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Photos Provided to China Daily

As China's first original ballet production, Red Detachment of Women has been staged around the world more than 4,000 times since its premiere in Beijing in 1964. It is best known in the West as the ballet performed for former US president Richard Nixon during his visit to China in 1972.

Based on a film by the same name, it tells the story of a rural girl, Wu Qionghua, who escapes a life of slavery and joins an all-female Communist Party army battalion led by commander Hong Changqing on Hainan Island during the civil war in the early 1930s.

The first performance to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ballet was staged in Hainan province in January - it was symbolic to begin the tour where the story takes place.

Wang Caijun, deputy director of the National Ballet of China, says the last stop of the tour was Macao because "East and West meet there".

"Ballet in China has a 50-year history. It's far behind the history of hundreds of years in the West. But the key to Chinese ballet's growing popularity is its interest in telling homegrown stories," he says.

To better understand and portray the female soldiers, choreographer Li Chengxiang led the composer Wu Zuqiang, choreographers Jiang Zuhui and Wang Xixian, as well as top ballet dancers Bai Shuxiang, Zhong Runliang and Liu Qingtang on a trip to Hainan Island.

"The dancers took off their ballet shoes and put on army boots. They received strict training just like soldiers," Feng Ying says.

As a veteran dancer and the current director of the National Ballet of China, she has also performed the leading female role of Wu Qionghua.

Zhou Zhaohui, a dancer with the National Ballet of China, says: "My parents were so proud of me when they heard I was to play the role of Hong Changqing. They have watched the film hundreds of times. It means so much to my parents' generation.

"Now, I have been performing the role for more than 13 years. It is meaningful to me, not only as my first leading role as a ballet dancer, but also as an inspiration in my life."

According to Wang Caijun, Red Detachment of Women is still evolving, with a new generation of ballet dancers performing the piece every year.

"Unlike our generation, which was close to the story of the ballet, the younger generation has little knowledge and few feelings about that history. Their main inspiration comes from the black-and-white movies and experiences passed down by veteran dancers," 56-year-old Wang says. "But the ballet is still popular today, among middle-aged people and the younger generation, because it connects with the audiences - not just the story but also the spirit of the roles.

"From becoming a slave to becoming a soldier, Wu Qionghua reflects a huge personal leap, which is like a role model for today's young people, fighting for their future. It's full of positive attitude and energy."

The ballet will be staged at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sept 26, the same date of the show's premiere in 1964, as a conclusion to this year's anniversary celebration.

Wang says that different generations of ballet dancers, who have performed in the ballet over the years, will appear onstage, celebrating together.

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn

Zhang Jian plays the lead role in The Red Detachment of Women.