There are high but justified expectations for the National Ballet of China's Raise The Red Lantern. With top mainland talents such as film director Zhang Yimou, composer Chen Qigang and choreographer Wang Xinpeng in the credits, you expect sparks to fly. For the most part, they do. Zhang, who blazed a trail by undertaking the ballet's artistic direction, has done as good a job as one would expect from a film-maker producing a ballet. The five-scene work, which tells a tragic love story of a young girl who marries into the household of a feudal lord, is based on Zhang's earlier movie of the same name. It has a luscious, cinematic quality - but at times comes dangerously close to appearing like a movie rather than a ballet, with the dancers' moves bordering on pantomime. However, Zhang has added some endearing qualities, such as the use of shadow puppet techniques in the first half's pas de deux, depicting the rape scene between the lord and the young bride, and the clever use of Peking opera elements, including some lovely arias in the beginning and the ending. Much of the emotional weight is carried by the female principal dancers, in the roles of the lord's three wives. Zhu Yan, as the innocent third wife, breathed intense emotions into her character. Meng Ningning shone as the jealous and coy second wife. Zhang kept the pace steady and the generous use of the colour red added to the ambience. Most of the untraditional elements he has employed work well, but I was puzzled by his decision to add a comedic mahjong scene. Today, 7.30pm; tomorrow, 2.30pm and 7.30pm; March 17, 7.30pm. Cultural Centre Grand Theatre, Tsim Sha Tsui. $130-$490 Urbtix
