The play has met the challenge of appearing before knowledgeable western audiences, and has become a commercial success.

Huang Minxuan, vice director of National Ballet of China said, "The magnificent work of 'Raise the Red Lantern' elevated the stature of our troupe to its highest ever level. It was so popular with western audiences that almost every one of its performances in Europe and the US was sold out."

China's resourceful repertoire of music and folklore has provided a constant source of inspiration to ballet choreographers.

The Liaoning Ballet company came up with a play based on a much-loved Erhu solo "The Moon Reflected on Two Springs", which was listed as one of China's "Ten Best Stage Spectaculars" in 2005.

"In the Mood for Love", a throwback to 1930s Shanghai, has emerged as another Shanghai Ballet Troupe classic.

But this explosion of Chinese ballets owes much to overseas choreographers. French choreographers are behind "In the Mood for Love", while Chinese-Canadian Fu Xingbang took the helm for the creation of "Mei Lanfang".

Some are concerned that the absence of outstanding Chinese choreographers could handicap the development of Chinese ballet.

By adding an oriental grace and aesthetic to ballet's classical origins, Chinese artists are working to make ballet part of their own culture.

This transition is bound to place enormous demands on generations of ballerinas and choreographers. But if recent success is anything to go by, they will be more than up to the task.