On the evening of October 12, at SPI auditorium, illuminated by spotlights and crowdedwith spectators, The National Ballet of China (NBC) put on a special show for SPI/SAI. More than 700 people, including XU Jiangang (Executive Vice President of SPI/SAI), FENG Ying (Director of NBC), ZHU Lianggao and MEI Lihong (Vice Presidents of SPI/SAI), LUO Feng (Provost), and other leaders and guests, students, and faculty members, watched the show.

　　In June 2019, on the eve of the 98^th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, NBC put on their masterpiece and a major Chinese ballet classic----the Red Detachment of Women----at SPI/SAI. The women soldiers with ballet shoes impressed the spectators with their valiant bearing and fighting spirit.

　　This time, they opened the show with “Emeralds”, an excerpt from aworld classic “Jewels.”. Young dancers wearing short emerald tulle dresses and emerald crowns danced to Gabriel Urbain Fauré’s orchestral suite “Pelléas and Mélisande”, exemplifying the refinement, elegance, and mystery of emeralds and giving the spectators a glimpse into the exquisiteness and aesthetics of French Romanticism.“Don Quixote” is a ballet classic for its high technical requirements. It tells the story of how Don Quixote helped Kitri, daughter of an inn owner, and Basilio, a barber, get together despite the obstacles. In that ballet evening, the dancers put on excerpts from Scene 2 and 3. The spectators were deeply impressed by their elegant posture, the exotic Spanish flavor, and the jocular plot, and some veteran fans applauded the dancers amid the skillfully challenging parts.

　　As a tribute to the Party for its 100^th anniversary, “Yimeng,” a major original ballet production inspired by the wartime contribution of the local women known as “Red Sisters” of Yinan County who not only helped Communist troops but sometimes even sacrificed their lives to protect the soldiers, seeks to portray the collective image of “Red Sisters”, reinterpret their model spirit, and relive Yimeng’s spirit of unity between the people and the militaryon stage. In that evening, dancers put on the excerpt where Ying said farewell to the Eighth Route platoon leader. Through their moves, the platoon leader showed his admiration and gratitude and Ying her worries and support...The spectators were impressed by their heartfelt bond.

　　As the grand finale, “The Red Detachment of Women” — ActIVwas put on. In her solo, the young dancer was able to perfectly show the change of mind that qionghua, the woman soldier, went through after receiving education from the Party. She grew from a bitter and sad village girl into a loyal and brave soldier of the Liberation Army. The show came to a climax as happy women soldiers danced in a get-together of soldiers and civilians.

　　After the show, dancers answered multiple curtain calls amid a continued standing ovation from the audience. The spectators agreed that the show was a combination of excerpts from Western classics, original Chinese productions, and new ballet works, showing a perfect synergy between classics and modern works and between local productions and world classics. With a talented line-up and orderly organization, the show ended up a romantic and elegant feast for the eye and the ear. Students and faculty members were able to enjoy ballet at a closer distance, improve their artistic attainment and taste, and receive education on the CPC’s history as they watch high art.