The Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) China Tour 2009 kicked off on January 9 at Baiyun International Convention Centre, Guangzhou, which is a sister city of Birmingham. In the following days, the company performed in Beijing and Shanghai. Two full-length narrative ballets are being staged in China: Company Director David Bintley’s Beauty and the Beast and Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet. The Royal Ballet Sinfonia, the Orchestra of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, will also delight audiences with concerts in Beijing and Shanghai.

The tour is sponsored by Amway Artistry, Birmingham City Council, IMI, The University of Birmingham, Bournville College, The Heart of England (Advantage West Midlands) and the British Council.

With a host of Birmingham-based sponsors, the tour is also aiming to promote the city to its Chinese counterpart. In Guangzhou, BRB chief executive Chris Barron said the tour had been three years in the making but is now proving to be worth all the hard work.

David Bintley’s Beauty and the Beast

David Bintley’s Beauty and the Beast premiered at the Birmingham Hippodrome in December 2003 and charmed audiences throughout the UK and during the company’s tour to Japan in 2008.

Beauty and the Beast

The ballet tells the classic fairytale story of passion and prejudice as Belle journeys to meet her beastly captor and discovers the meaning of true love. Exquisite sets are by designer Phillip Prowse, music by Canadian composer Glenn Buhr and lighting by Mark Jonathan.

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Music: Glenn Buhr

Choreography: David Bintley

Design: Philip Prowse

Lighting: Mark Jonathan

Performed by Birmingham Royal Ballet

Accompanied by Royal Ballet Sinfonia