Novel gets a new lease of life as a ballet

Shanghai Ballet has adapted "Lily," a 1958 short novel by Shanghai-born writer Ru Zhijuan, the mother of famous Shanghai author Wang Anyi, into a dance drama that will premiere at Shanghai Grand Theater in July.

Ru Zhijuan, born in 1925, excelled at writing short stories with fresh prose and direct narratives. Her signature piece, "Lily," is set against the backdrop of the Liberation War, describing a simple yet heartbreaking episode during the Mid-Autumn Festival night in 1946.

The plot revolves around a young army messenger accompanying a female cultural troupe member to a frontline station, where they borrow a quilt from a new bride. It highlights the pure and beautiful human relationship that blossomed during the chaos of war.

Wang Anyi was invited to take part in the adaptation. The production has been choreographed and directed by Wang Ge.

"This year marks my mother's centennial birth anniversary. This ballet is a gift to her," Wang Anyi said.

According to her, "the original novella follows a minimalist narrative thread."

"How can we turn it into a ballet with dramatic impact? At first, we couldn't envisage it. However, I thought the director's interpretation was fascinating after seeing the rehearsals," she said.

The ballet has two narrative lines: memory and reality. For director Wang, whose expertise lies in folk dance choreography, guiding dancers to convey intense emotions was a challenge.

"Ballet possesses an exquisite beauty that verges on flawlessness. Dancers usually maintain subtle expressions and restrained dramatic presence," the director explained.

"We encouraged performers to break free from ballet's conventional performative patterns," he said.

Wang Anyi pointed out that in the original novel, the three youthful characters lived in a simple spiritual realm and had less challenges than today's youth.

"In today's ever-changing, complex environment, young people face psychological demands. They require dependable anchors to help them navigate life. I hope 'Lily' can give them such enduring strength," she said.

The world premiere of "Lily" will be held on July 18 at the Shanghai Grand Theater, followed by a national tour.

Performance info

Dates: July 18-19, 7:30pm; July 20, 2pm

Tickets: 180-680 yuan

Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater 上海大剧院

Address: 300 People's Ave 人民大道300号