It is similar to an open rehearsal and ballerinas will demonstrate their basic training and daily routines.

During the show, Zhao Ruheng, president of the National Ballet of China, will introduce the performances they are going to stage at the end of this month, including "Fountains of Tears," "Coppelia," "Raise the Red Lanterns" and some triple-bill shows performed by award-winning dancers of the troupe.

"Most of the shows are new productions of the company, so the audience might not be as familiar with them as with 'Swan Lake' or 'Red Detachment of Women'," Zhao said.

"I hope the stories about the choreographers we invited from abroad, the choreography, the costumes, the designs and everything behind the stage will help the audience enjoy the shows."

At the end they will perform some of the expected highlights of upcoming performances.

The show is also being specially presented for children shorter than 1.2 metres, who are usually forbidden into the theatre.

"These children are the future of ballet, but they cannot enjoy live performances because they are too young to be accepted by the theatre," Zhao said.

"So we're purposely having the show on a Sunday morning for them."

Zhu Yan, prime ballerina of the company, said: "Through the special show ballet lovers, especially little girls who are going to learn ballet, can get some ideas of how hard we train and how difficult a successful repertoire comes into being."

(China Daily December 4, 2002)