One performance, different styles, an all-encompassing ballet feast.

This show brings together George Balanchine’s SERENADE, Helgi Tomasson’s CONCERTO GROSSO for five male dancers, and Vitor Luiz’s new creation REMEMBER ME. These three works complement each other and offer a deep exploration of beauty, adding a unique artistic brilliance to the ballet stage.

This is not only a visual feast but also a rich exchange of artistic styles. New creations and classics shine together, with classical elegance merging with modern passion.

 

SERENADE
Serenade is a milestone in the history of dance. It was the first original ballet George Balanchine created in America and has become one of the signature works of the New York City Ballet. The piece fully showcases Balanchine’s romantic and expansive artistic vision. On its 90th anniversary, Suzhou Ballet Theatre introduced and staged this work, premiering in June 2024. It has since toured cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, receiving widespread praise from audiences.

 

 

CONCERTO GROSSO
If Serenade is a quiet poem flowing through the night, gently touching the softest strings of the heart with its delicate and soothing melody, then Concerto Grosso, by Helgi Tomasson, is a passionate life anthem. Through the powerful and dynamic movements of five male dancers, it showcases the energy and vitality of life, inspiring a sense of courage and determination.

 

 

REMEMBER ME
Remember Me is a work that demands strong emotional depth. Brazilian ballet dancer and choreographer Vitor Luiz, who spent ten years as a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet, brings his rich stage experience into the creation. As a choreographer, Vitor infuses the piece with his personal insights on life, human nature, and his unique artistic vision.

About REMEMBER ME GALA
Founded in 2007, Suzhou Ballet Theatre is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Suzhou Cultural Investment Development Group Co., Ltd. and the only professional ballet company in Jiangsu Province, with dancers from first-class ballet companies at home and abroad. Since its establishment, Suzhou Ballet Theatre has been developing towards “domestically first-class and internationally renowned”, producing works as “art-oriented”, and aiming to introduce more excellent works and talents as well as enhancing the public’s spiritual strength. The Theatre has successfully created ten large-scale productions, including Romeo and Juliet, Legend of Beauty, The Nutcracker, Tang Yin, Swan Lake, My Name is Ding Xiang and Glorious Clouds, etc., as well as modern ballet works with distinctive Suzhou charm. Through inheritance and innovation, the Theatre has created a unique style named “Jiangnan Ballet”.

 

Since 2014, several ballet works of Suzhou Ballet Theatre have been selected into projects funded by national, provincial and municipal art funds, assigned with national tasks and invited by overseas authorities to carry out international cultural exchange activities in more than 10 countries and regions around the world, including China, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Singapore, Poland, Qatar, Bahrain, Turkey, Latvia, Oman, Spain, Algeria, Malaysia and etc. Suzhou Ballet Theatre is constantly accumulating, and is committed to promoting the high-quality development of Chinese ballet on this new journey.
Currently, WANG Quanxing serves as the General Manager and TAN Yuanyuan serves as the Artistic Director.

CREATIVE TEAM
Tan Yuanyuan
Artistic Director

SERENADE
Choreographer: George Balanchine
©The George Balanchine Trust
Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Repetiteur: Rebecca Metzger
Costume Designer: Karinska
Lighting Designers: Wang Biyong/Mu Fan

CONCERTO GROSSO
Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson
©Helgi Tomasson
Music: Francesco Geminiani
Repetiteur: Vitor Luiz

REMEMBER ME
Choreographer: Vitor Luiz
Music: Mozart Camargo Guarnieri
Stage & Lighting Designer: Mu Fan
Costume Designer: Cui Hongting

 

Tan Yuanyuan
Artistic Director
International Ballet Artist
Director, Guest Professor of Collaborative Innovation Centre for Dancing, Shanghai Theatre Academy
Former Principal Dancer, San Francisco Ballet

As a ballet artist who is active on the international stage, Tan has starred as the leading dancer in classical ballet including Swan Lake, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Othello and Onegin, amongst others; modern ballet of diverse genres and themes such as After the Rain, Firebird, Theme of Paganini, Distant Cries, Stravinsky Violin Concerto as well as works of renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine and John Neumeier.In 2015, Tan established Tan Yuanyuan International Ballet Studio at Shanghai Theatre Academy. In addition, Tan is the co-author, publisher, joint planner of several books including Art on the Toe - World Ballet Tour, Ballerina: A Step to Step Guide to Ballet (translation) together with Beijing Science and Technology Press, Ballet - The Definitive Illustrated Story (translation) together with Huazhong University of Science and Technology Press and Beijing Youshu Zhimei Cultural Media Co., Ltd.In 2021, Tan, as the artistic director and co-choreographer, produced the Dance Music Program Tan Yuanyuan and Her Friends - Art Museum Fantasy Night. The program toured around various cities and was warmly welcomed by local audience. In October 2023, Tan accepted the offer and was appointed as the Artistic Director of Suzhou Ballet Theatre.

 

George Balanchine
Choreographer of Serenade
George Balanchine (1904-1983) was the most influential choreographer of classical ballet in the United States in the 20th century. During his lifetime, he choreographed more than 200 ballets, including full-length versions of The Nutcracker (1954) and Don Quixote (1965). Balanchine was also the co-founder of the New York City Ballet where he served as artistic director until his death, in 1983, in New York City.
Balanchine created plotless ballets, where the dancing upstaged glitz and storytelling. His work never featured a star, as he believed the performance should outshine the individual. He is credited with developing the neo-classical style distinct to the 20th century.In addition to ballet, Balanchine choreographed Hollywood movies and Broadway musicals. He is known for his connection to Igor Stravinsky; Balanchine created many ballets to his work, some in collaboration with the composer.

 

Helgi Tomasson
Choreographer of Concerto Grosso
Helgi Tomasson, one of the most venerated classical dancers of his generation, assumed leadership of San Francisco Ballet in 1985 and concluded his 37th and final season as Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer in 2022. Born in Iceland, he danced with Harkness Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, and New York City Ballet, where he distinguished himself as a dancer of technical purity, musicality, and intelligence. Under his direction, SF Ballet became a company widely recognized as one of the finest in the world. He choreographed more than 50 works for the Company, including full-length productions of Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Romeo & Juliet (taped for Lincoln Center at the Movies, Giselle, and Nutcracker (taped for PBS’s Great Performances), many of these works presented globally. Tomasson connected SF Ballet to the world, through co-commissions with the world’s top ballet companies and major tours including France, UK, USA, and China.

 

Vitor Luiz de Souza Santos
Repetiteur of Concerto Grosso; Choreographer of Remember Me
Vitor Luiz is a classical ballet dancer from Brazil. In 2000, Vitor accepted a contract with Birmingham Royal Ballet under Sir David Bintley, launching his professional career in the United Kingdom. He eventually returned to Brazil to join the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro Ballet (BTM), the nation's leading ballet company. His talents quickly gained recognition, leading to his promotion to Primeiro Bailarino (Principal Dancer).In 2009, Vitor moved to California and worked as a principal dancer for ten years at the prestigious San Francisco Ballet. Vitor Luiz's prolific career has exposed him to a vast repertoire, dancing in over one hundred classical and contemporary ballets. His versatility and partnering skills have made him a sought-after guest artist worldwide, including with the English National Ballet and Atlanta Ballet. He has received numerous awards, including the Isadora Duncan Dance Award for Best Ensemble Performance in Possokhov's Classical Symphony in 2010.In 2019, Vitor Luiz joined the faculty at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Dance, as an assistant professor. He teaches classical ballet, repertory, and partnering. As an emerging choreographer, Vitor combines his classical and contemporary training with Brazilian influences. His latest commission work, Luna Emotions, premiered with Atlanta Ballet II on November 26, 2022. Additionally, his full-length ballet, The White Feather, a Persian tale, was featured on the cover of the arts section of The New York Times.