★ "Swan Lake" – the ballet that has earned the highest honor in the global ballet world! ★ The most charismatic star dancers and the largest ensemble of "swans"! ★ The "ocean of swans" has created a sensation both at home and abroad!

 

Since 1895, "Swan Lake" has garnered the highest acclaim in the international ballet arena. It exudes an irresistible purity that captivates audiences worldwide, showcases dazzling technical feats that inspire dancers to push their limits, and leads the classic trend of global ballet art. In 2015, Shanghai Ballet launched the classic version of "Swan Lake", inviting Derek Deane, former Artistic Director of English National Ballet, to serve as choreographer, creating an unprecedented "ocean of swans" in China's ballet scene. In 2026, Shanghai Ballet's classic "Swan Lake" presents its 10th-anniversary edition, featuring the most charismatic star dancers and the largest ensemble of swans, offering a poetic tribute to this 130-year-old artistic masterpiece.

 

 

The classic version of "Swan Lake" increases the number of "swans" in Acts II and IV and features new choreography for the swan ensemble. The swans gather and disperse around Odette as the center, like opening and closing petals. They rise on pointe and vigorously flap their "wings" to defend their princess.

 

Audiences will witness everything they anticipate in this classic production: the romantic pas de deux between the Swan Princess and the Prince, the lively "Four Little Swans", the technically brilliant pas de deux of the "Black Swan" that showcases the pinnacle of classical ballet technique, and the energetic character dances... On the stage with enhanced depth, the swans move and form elegant formations, simple or intricate, with each freeze-frame creating a breathtaking scene.

 

In 2024, Shanghai Ballet's swans made their debut at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, but the charm of Shanghai-style ballet has long been renowned worldwide through this "ocean of swans". Since its premiere, the classic version of "Swan Lake" has toured Beijing, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu, Hangzhou and other cities in China, creating a stir domestically. It has also toured Europe four times, covering the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Australia. In 2020, it performed four consecutive shows at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in the United States. In just a few years, it has staged nearly 300 performances at home and abroad, captivating audiences around the world with its romantic and exquisite presentation.

 

 

 

His major choreographic works include: "Swan Lake", "The Sleeping Beauty", "The Nutcracker", "Giselle", "La Bayadère", "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", "Strictly Gershwin", "Cinderella", "Romeo and Juliet", "Hamlet", "Sicilian Vespers", "The Picture of Dorian Gray", "Ephemeral Numbers", "We All Have Hungry Hearts", "Anything Goes", "Fool's Gold", "Improvisation", "Minuet", etc.

 

In 2000 and 2004, Shanghai Ballet successively introduced Derek Deane's versions of "Swan Lake" and "Romeo and Juliet". Subsequently, he tailored numerous ballets for Shanghai Ballet, including the Shanghai Grand Theatre version of "The Nutcracker" (2010), the classic version of "Swan Lake" (2015), "Hamlet" (2016), "The Sleeping Beauty" (2018), Shanghai Ballet's version of "La Traviata" (2019), and "The Phantom of the Opera" (2023). He served as Artistic Director of Shanghai Ballet from 2018 to 2023 and has been Artistic Advisor of Shanghai Ballet since 2024.