A Chinese homecoming for an American ballet choreographer

Dancers of the National Ballet of China in Beijing rehearse The Song of the Earth. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

From May 12 to 14, The Song of the Earth will make its debut in China, being presented by the National Ballet of China at Beijing's Tianqiao Theater.

Four years ago, Neumeier collaborated with the troupe for the first time to interpret The Little Mermaid, paying tribute to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen, according to Feng Ying, president of the National Ballet of China.

"Our first collaboration was so rewarding for our dancers and choreographers that we invited him again and we are honored that we are able to present this important work of Neumeier," says Feng.

When Mahler created The Song of the Earth, the composer was in a very difficult moment of his life.

He had lost his beloved daughter, who was 6. While he was still in mourning, he resigned from the Vienna Court Opera as principal director and he was diagnosed with a very serious heart condition. He knew his lifespan was limited.

"These Chinese poems seemed to exactly touch the emotional moment of Mahler's life at that time," says Neumeier.