An innovative version of the romantic ballet classic breaks with tradition by turning up the machismo several notches. Zhang Kun reports in Shanghai.

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake gives the classic ballet new wings, propelled by an injection of testosterone.

Since all the swans are men, there are no tutus, pirouette or pointe shoes.

It will be shown in Shanghai for 11 nights, plus matinees. The performances will be the version's China debut.

Tickets went on sale in May.

The production has won Lawrence Olivier, Tony and Astaire awards for Excellence in Dance on Broadway since it was created in 1995.

When a revival was staged at Sadler's Wells last year, the Daily Telegraph's critic Rachel Ward wrote: "Bourne's Swan Lake is witty, menacing, lyrical and wild. Its continuing success is a continuing inspiration. I am sure I won't be the only one flocking back to the theater for another viewing."

Bourne's Swan Lake is based on Tchaikovsky's musical masterpiece created in the late 19th century but tells a contemporary story.

The boldest change is that the all-male cast of swans clad in feathered pants presents a show that's aggressive, savage and virile in stark contrast to the ballerinas' traditionally elegant, romantic and delicate portrayal.

The prince in Bourne's Swan Lake is a melancholic young man with an Oedipus complex. He has his first encounter with the swans while sitting on a park bench, contemplating suicide.

He's attracted to, and inspired by, the wildfowl's beauty, vitality and freedom, and is especially infatuated with the lead swan. The lead swan enters the royal ball as a mysterious man who seduces every woman present, including the queen, sending the prince into a fit of insanity. (Some characters other than the swans, such as the queen, are women.)

Bourne's choreography is especially important for male dancers.

"It gives the center stage to the best of them - men with excellent dancing techniques and deep emotions," modern Chinese dancer Jin Xing says.

In traditional ballet productions, male dancers often merely accompany and support female colleagues.

"This time, all the male dancers are heroes," she says.

Jin was China's first transgender dancer and became known all over China for her talent more than 10 years ago.

"The idea of a male swan makes complete sense to me," Bourne says.

"The strength, the beauty, the enormous wingspan of these creatures suggests to me the musculature of a male dancer more readily than a ballerina in her white tutu."

He used to spend hours watching swans in parks. Hitchcock's film The Birds influenced him, too.

"Matthew showed extreme respect for Tchaikovsky's music," Jin says.

"He didn't break it to pieces and re-assemble those into something else but created a different story line to fit it in, a subject that's still sensitive for Chinese society."

The emotional entanglements between the prince and lead swan impressed Jin.

"An artwork that brings more attention to gay issues is worth lots of recognition. It marks social progress."

Contact the writer at zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn

IF YOU GO

Shanghai Culture Square

597 Fuxing Zhonglu (Middle Road), Shanghai.

2 pm, 7:30 pm, Sept 25-Oct 5.

021-6472-6000.

Night shows: 150-880 yuan ($24-128); matinees 80-800 yuan.

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake tells a contemporary story.Dominic North performs as the prince and Richard Winsor as the swan. Photos provided to China Daily

The all-male cast of swans clad in feathered pants presents a show that is aggressive, savage and virile.

The emotional entanglements between the prince and lead swan are impressive.

(China Daily 06/08/2014 page9)