In brief
Xinhua reported that the Shanghai Ballet premiered Giselle at Long Island’s Tilles Center on Sunday night, impressing New York’s audience with the Chinese dancers’ technique. The performance is part of a 13‑city tour that includes the original ballet The Butterfly Lovers. The company celebrated its 25th anniversary performing nearly 100 shows in the United States since 2002.
Xinhua reported that the Shanghai Ballet brought the classic ballet Giselle to Long Island’s Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday night, enthralling New York audiences with the company’s skilled Chinese dancers.
Miya Dunham, a New Yorker, said the show left her "impressed by the poetic atmosphere and magnificent performances of the Chinese dancers." She added, "It was such a beautiful experience."
A college student named Natasha, who did not share her surname, remarked that it was her first time watching a performance by a Chinese ballet company and that it "truly exceeded my expectations," praising the dancers’ extraordinary technique.
The two‑hour production was part of the Shanghai Ballet’s 2026 U.S. tour, a schedule that spans 13 cities across eight states – including California, Arizona, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia – running from Oct. 13 to Nov. 12. The tour features two productions, Giselle and the original ballet The Butterfly Lovers.
Ji Pingping, director of Shanghai Ballet, reflected on the company’s history in the United States: "Since our first U.S. tour in 2002, Shanghai Ballet artists have brought our distinctive ‘Shanghai‑style’ ballet to audiences across the United States, performing nearly 100 shows and creating cherished and heartwarming memories."
Founded in 1979, Shanghai Ballet blends Chinese and Western dance traditions to create its distinctive artistic style. Its repertoire includes classical works such as Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and Romeo and Juliet, as well as original productions including The White‑Haired Girl and The Butterfly Lovers.
