This is to unveil only a little of the company's interpretation of ballet's most seductive dance.

The Sydney Dance Company, dubbed as one of the world's best contemporary dance troupes, is in Shanghai as part of Australia Week.

Barry Plews, producer of the dance performance as well as other projects included in the weeklong activities, said the ballet's choreographer, Graeme Murphy, was one of Australia's most celebrated artists.

He said Murphy's unique choreogragraphy, combined with the world-class technique of dancers who have undergone years of rigid traditional ballet training, will create a miraculous scene.

"Apart from the best lighting design which has previously been seen only at Olympics 2000 and extravagant costumes by noted fashion designer Akira Isogowa, the dancers have the greatest bodies in the world and, fortunately, they would like to show them off," said Plews.

He suggested that ballet and drama lovers rush to buy tickets for the front seats to fully enjoy the spectacle.

In fact, according to Chen Shenglai, president of the Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival, a lot of seat bookings have already been made from abroad as well other parts of China.

He said: "Many artists, like the distinguished photographer Wang Xiaohui who is living in Germany, have telephoned me to order tickets a month in advance."

November 11-12

Shanghai Grand Theatre

300 Renmin Dadao

Tel: 6372-8701, 6372-8702

150-580 yuan

(Shanghai Star November 12, 2002)