Chinese version of The Nutcracker headed to Kennedy Center

In introducing the show, the Kennedy Center said the Chinese ballet company, with its "luminous" fusion of traditions, tells the story of a family's Chinese New Year celebration — set to Tchaikovsky's treasured Nutcracker score.

"This colorful, fresh tale is brought to life by vibrant characters and radiant choreography," the center said in a release posted on its website.

Audiences will delight as a scroll of Chinese folklore unfurls, showcasing the legendary monster Nian, the elegant and graceful Fans, the extravagant dances of Silk and Spinning Top, and more wonders in the "ravishing" Porcelain Kingdom, according to the release.

The Chinese New Year, which premiered in China in 2000, is one of the National Ballet of China's repertoires performed often during the Spring Festival.

The Chinese adaption has transformed the traditionally Christmas tale into one set during Chinese New Year, a time for family reunions and good wishes for the New Year.

Feng said the audience will see a bonanza of Chinese elements, including the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, and things bearing good wishes, such as pines and cranes, which are symbols for longevity.

In a 2016 review of the show posted on Bachtrack, the classic music website, Catherine Sutherland, a former dance editor for the site, wrote, "The Chinese New Year is an admirable ode to both a western ballet classic and to Chinese culture."

The National Ballet of China made its debut at the Kennedy Center in 1986, presenting the Yumeiren (The Mermaid), the first Chinese dance drama to combine Western ballet with traditional Chinese dance moves, according to Feng.

"The cultural exchanges (through performances) are very important for different ballet companies as well as their dancers to understand and appreciate each other's artistic styles," Feng said. "They also offer a venue for the National Ballet of China to demonstrate its artistic standing."

The National Ballet of China was founded in 1959. With its "dazzling" hybrid of Western ballet and Chinese culture, the ballet has won a "distinguished reputation" for performing cherished works and original creations, according to a release posted on the Kennedy Center's website.