Dancing across worlds

Love Bridge, inspired by a famous Chinese legend, will be a highlight of Suzhou Ballet's European tour in September, featuring excerpts from the production. By blending Western ballet with Chinese storytelling, the piece aims to bridge cultures and captivate both local and international audiences. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Tan, the former principal dancer of the San Francisco Ballet, says Love Bridge is a blend of Western ballet techniques with Chinese musical and cultural elements.

The Suzhou Symphony Orchestra plays a crucial role in shaping the work's sonic landscape, merging symphonic grandeur with traditional Chinese instruments.

This combination of Western ballet with Chinese storytelling is designed to build a bridge between cultures, drawing local and international audiences into a shared experience.

"Ballet is a Western art form, but this story is distinctly Chinese," Tan says.

"Using ballet to tell this story allows us to introduce our culture to the world. Just like the magpies in the story, which build a bridge across the sky, our performance aims to create a connection that transcends geographical boundaries."