China News Service, New York, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Ballet once again promotes people-to-people exchanges between the United States and China

—Interview with Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre

China News Service reporter Wang Fan

The American Ballet Theatre (ABT), which made its debut in China 23 years ago with the classical ballet "Dancing Queen", returned to China in November this year. Susan Jaffe, the principal dancer who performed The Dancing Queen, is now the company's artistic director. This time, she will lead the company to Shanghai and Beijing to present Giselle and other works to the audience.

From principal dancer to artistic director, how does Jaffe see the role of ballet in people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States? Jia Fei recently gave an exclusive interview to China News Service's "East-West Question" in New York, saying that people-to-people exchanges between the United States and China are very important. Ballet is a universal language, and I hope that this people-to-people exchange will continue.

The transcript of the interview is summarized below:

China News Service: American Ballet Theater is known as a national treasure ballet company in the United States. Last December, you were appointed Artistic Director of the Company, which attracted a lot of attention from the ballet world at the time. What does an art director do?

Susan Jaffe: The artistic director is the one who plans all the shows. I plan all the programs that the audience sees, and I select all the ballets that the company will present, as well as the dancers and actors in the repertoire. In addition to planning the program, I also develop the vision and strategy for the company. At the same time, I am also a ballet coach and guide during rehearsals to ensure that all dancers are supported and progressive. In addition, I work with the production team on the introduction of ballet, as well as the marketing team on visual effects such as brochure design and new media content. As I am also the Acting Executive Director, my role also includes overseeing the company's operations and being responsible for fundraising.

Susan Jaffe plays the lead role in the ballet Don Quixote at the American Ballet Theater. Courtesy of American Ballet Theatre

China News Service: When the American Ballet Theatre visited China for the first time 23 years ago, you were the principal dancer of the company. What are your impressions of that visit?

Susan Jaffe: I remember we did 'Dancing Queen' in Shanghai, and I loved the food and the architecture. For an American, it was an exotic place. It was funny, and the audience was very reserved when we performed, and I thought, "Oh, maybe they don't like it." But after the performance, they applauded wildly in appreciation. It took me some time to get used to the feeling. It was a very happy experience and I am looking forward to visiting China again.

I haven't been to China since 2000, so I'm glad to be back in China. Usually we all perform in the U.S., and it's exciting to be able to perform for another culture, for another audience. It will be a very special experience for our company. For the Chinese audience, I am very happy to share our dance company and performances with them.

A still from the ballet theater ballet "Giselle". Courtesy of American Ballet Theatre

China News Service: Can you tell us more about the American ballet theater's visit to China?

Susan Jaffe: We have 90 dancers in our company, and this time about 80 to 85 dancers will go to China. Our performances in China include a number of full-length performances of the ballet Giselle, as well as two performances of Piano Concerto No. <>, The Death of Love, and Etudes.

Regarding the performance of the two mixed repertoire, Ratmansky's Piano Concerto No. 20 is a wonderful and energetic work. "The Death of Love", choreographed by Killian, is very famous, and Killian is a genius. Randall's "Etudes" was composed in the 40s of the <>th century and is the most classic one-act ballet. This work is difficult for the dancers and will be an opportunity to showcase the skills of the entire company.

A still from the American Ballet Theatre ballet "Giselle". Courtesy of American Ballet Theatre

China News Service: American ballet theaters are most famous for their story ballets. Why did you choose Giselle this time? I've noticed that the starring roles in the China tour are almost identical to the version in New York, so will the choreography, stage design, and other details remain the same?

Susan Jaffe: Giselle tells a wonderful and moving story, and it's a work that has been popular all over the world. It will allow the whole company to be well presented. In terms of production, the choreography and stage design are all based on intellectual property content and will certainly remain original.

I think what really makes these ballets alive is the interpretation of the dancers. Therefore, I like to keep the lead actors the same, because they will become more and more tacit, so that they can do wonders on stage. We will be performing a lot of Giselle, and each principal dancer is different, so I hope you will see a few more.

A still from the American Ballet Theatre ballet "Giselle". Courtesy of American Ballet Theatre

China News Service: What message do you want to convey to the Chinese audience through ballet performances?

Susan Jaffe: Ballet is a universal language, and it touches the soul. It expresses humanity, brings joy, and touches people's hearts. I want our dance company to bring the joy, beauty and elegance of humanity to the Chinese people. As they sit in the audience, I hope they can leap into another magical world and feel moved and uplifted.

China News Service: How do you view China-US people-to-people exchanges? What role does ballet play in people-to-people exchanges?

Susan Jaffe: People-to-people exchanges between the U.S. and China are very important. I think the U.S. needs to communicate with countries around the world. We need to share art forms and artists with each other. As I said before, ballet is a universal language. When the ballet company visits China, we don't speak a language that the Chinese don't understand, because our language doesn't rely on the voice but on the body, and the audience can easily understand it. Art stimulates the imagination, touches the heart, and touches the heart. This is the role of ballet artists on stage.

A still from the American Ballet Theatre ballet "Giselle". Courtesy of American Ballet Theatre

China News Service: American ballet theaters have always attached great importance to exchanges between China and the United States, for example, in recent years, they have recruited Chinese dancer Li Fangqi. What are your expectations for the future of international people-to-people exchanges?

Susan Jaffe: I hope to keep going. Li Fangqi's performance is amazing, and she will play the role of Mirda, Queen of the Ghost Kingdom, in "Giselle" during her visit to China. I hope the Chinese people are proud of her.

International people-to-people exchange is also very important to our company. We have dancers from all over the world, and we look forward to traveling all over the world.

China News Service: As far as I know, American ballet theaters perform at least one new production every year, such as this year's Like Water for Chocolate. Is it possible that these new works will be presented on future international tours?

Susan Jaffe: It's like water to chocolate that's so beautiful, but it's so complicated to put on stage. It takes a long time for a new production to get it up and running, and it takes two or three days just to rehearse the technology in the theater, and the cost of the technical rehearsal is even higher than the cost of the performance. If we can do this faster, we can take new productions on international tours.

Susan Jaffe plays the lead role in the American Ballet Theatre ballet ballet The Sleeping Beauty. Courtesy of American Ballet Theatre

China News Service: Now that many ballet companies in the United States are facing operational challenges, how can we promote the development of our companies?

Susan Jaffe: First of all, start with school. The American Ballet Theatre has great affiliated ballet schools with the goal of preparing students to become artists.

Then, to value video and podcast channels, short, in-depth shows are important. The more the audience knows about ballet, the more they know what they're watching and the more they'll enjoy it. I hope that the audience will first understand the history of the work, the synopsis, the choreographer, and the composer and the first generation of dancers, so that they will have a deeper understanding of the work they are about to see. (ENDS)

Interviewee Profile:

Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre. Courtesy of American Ballet Theatre

Susan Jaffe is Artistic Director and Acting Executive Director of American Ballet Theatre (ABT). She served as a principal dancer with the company for 22 years, playing leading roles in classic ballets such as Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, The Dancing Queen, Giselle, and Don Quixote, and was hailed by The New York Times as "America's Most Outstanding Ballet Dancer." After leaving the stage, she served as the coach of the ballet school affiliated to the company, the advisor to the chairman of the board of directors of the company, the director of the repertoire, the dean of the School of Dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and the artistic director of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater.