Guest performances of “The Sleeping beauty” at China’s most prestigious concert hall

The Sleeping Beauty was chosen for these guest performances as it is one of the Latvian National Ballet's most magnificent productions in which Latvian ballet dancers demonstrate their mastery of the classical repertoire. Elza Leimane-Martinova and Baiba Kokina will perform the role of Princess Aurora, alongside Viktors Seiko and Sergejs Neikšins as Prince Désiré. The production premiered in 2010 and was created by the choreographer Aivars Leimanis in cooperation with the stage and costume designer Ināra Gauja.

“It is a great honour for the Latvian National Ballet to represent our country and the European Union in Beijing. We are delighted to perform on China’s most prestigious stage. Only the world’s best ballet companies are invited to appear here, so these guest performances are confirmation that the Latvian National Ballet is one of them,” emphasises Aivars Leimanis.

“Unfortunately, shortly before the guest performances we received the tragic news that the legendary Latvian ballet coach Modris Cers has passed away. We will dedicate the performances in China to him and we will dance in a way that would have made him proud,” says Aivars Leimanis.

Scene from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s ballet "The Sleeping Beauty". Photo: Andris Tone, LNO publicity photo

The Beijing National Centre for the Performing Arts – also called The Giant Egg – was designed by French architect Paul Andreu and opened in 2007.

The guest performances of the Latvian National Ballet in Beijing form part of the Latvian EU Council Presidency cultural programme which has contemporaneity, uniqueness and excellence as its core values. The programme consists of almost 200 events worldwide, and is the largest presentation of Latvian cultural excellence abroad since the country regained its independence.

Furthermore, 2015 marks the 40th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the EU and China. Initially, the EU-China relations developed in the framework of economic cooperation, but with time they have also incorporated foreign policy, defence, education, human rights and environment protection issues.