East Meets West

The world renowned National Ballet of China visits the Kennedy Center for an inspiring and enchanting way to see in Chinese New Year! Mixing classical Western ballet traditions with the spirit of traditional Chinese culture, this performance reimagines Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker to incorporate Chinese folklore, characters and legends, perfectly intertwining the traditions for an original and memorable performance like no other. 

Reframing the classic tale, in this special version a young girl is in the midst of festivities celebrating Chinese new year, when she get whisked away on a magical journey through different aspects of Chinese folk tales, myths and customs, culminating in arrival at the Porcelain Kingdom. Bringing to life Chinese culture in a gloriously colorful and exhilarating show, this elite company of dancers is not to be missed.