Since its debut in early May 2001, Raise the Red Lantern, performed by the Central Ballet Troupe, has secured many overseas invitations because of its originality and unique Chinese nature. The performance schedule, which has already been settled with a dozen of overseas agencies, will continue up until late 2002. The bookings for the show keep coming in, according to Beijing Review.

The troupe has given seven performances, including two previews. It has caught the attention of the whole country, in additon to liberal profits.

The ballet is scheduled for five performances at the Hong Kong Art Festival in March 2002. The troupe will then make a stopover in Macao. In October 2002, the ballet will take place at the opening ceremony of the Singapore Art Festival. Additionally, the US Metropolis plans to introduce the show after June 2003.

The Central Ballet Troupe is very much in demand, both nationally and internationally. Here in China, it has received invitations from cities including Chengdu, Xi 'an, Wuhan, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Internation-ally, France, Canada and Germany have expressed an interest in watching the troupe perform. The troupe is doing its best to accommodate all these places.

Raise the Red Lantern is a big scene that cannot be performed the same way in each and every theatre, so the Central Ballet Troupe will adjust its performance settings according to the design of the individual theatre in which it performs.

Watch out for Raise the Red Lantern at the Tianqiao Theater in Beijing this December.

(People's Daily 07/31/2001)