Tamara Rojo has garnered consistent praise for her athletic blend of technique and artistry. Here she is seen mid-flight in the execution of a "grand jeté" during a performance as Odette in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.
From Royal Ballet to Beijing —
Tamara Rojo has garnered consistent praise for her athletic blend of technique and artistry. Here she is seen mid-flight in the execution of a "grand jeté" during a performance as Odette in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.
Rojo, now 37, has been dancing since the age of five. She says that one day she walked into a ballet class at school and fell in love with everything: "the atmosphere, the piano music, the quiet of the room ... also, the ballet teacher was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
From Royal Ballet to Beijing —
Rojo, now 37, has been dancing since the age of five. She says that one day she walked into a ballet class at school and fell in love with everything: "the atmosphere, the piano music, the quiet of the room ... also, the ballet teacher was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
Rojo went on a "Fusion Journey" to Beijing. Chinese choreographer Fei Bo accompanied Rojo on a tour of some of Beijing's cultural focal points. Here, they are seen as the sun sets behind the enormous National Centre for the Performing Arts.
From Royal Ballet to Beijing —
Rojo went on a "Fusion Journey" to Beijing. Chinese choreographer Fei Bo accompanied Rojo on a tour of some of Beijing's cultural focal points. Here, they are seen as the sun sets behind the enormous National Centre for the Performing Arts.
Rojo says that during her journey she discovered that Chinese ballet is a relatively new art form introduced as a mode of cultural propaganda for the communist regime midway through the last century. This picture, released in March 1974 by the Chinese official news agency, shows female workers performing a ballet criticizing the teachings of ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius.
From Royal Ballet to Beijing —
Rojo says that during her journey she discovered that Chinese ballet is a relatively new art form introduced as a mode of cultural propaganda for the communist regime midway through the last century. This picture, released in March 1974 by the Chinese official news agency, shows female workers performing a ballet criticizing the teachings of ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius.
Dancers from "The Modern Ballet of the Revolution" aim their rifles during a scene from a revolutionary ballet performance in Peking, 1971.
From Royal Ballet to Beijing —
Dancers from "The Modern Ballet of the Revolution" aim their rifles during a scene from a revolutionary ballet performance in Peking, 1971.
Members of the National Ballet of China at a creativity workshop in Beijing. During her journey, Rojo observed that the dance culture in China is going through a period of reinvention as part of an effort to distance itself from its associations with communist propaganda of previous decades.
From Royal Ballet to Beijing —
Members of the National Ballet of China at a creativity workshop in Beijing. During her journey, Rojo observed that the dance culture in China is going through a period of reinvention as part of an effort to distance itself from its associations with communist propaganda of previous decades.
Dancers from the National Ballet of China in a production of "Raise the Red Lantern." The piece contains a distinctive mix of modern and classical dance, traditional opera and period dress.
From Royal Ballet to Beijing —
Dancers from the National Ballet of China in a production of "Raise the Red Lantern." The piece contains a distinctive mix of modern and classical dance, traditional opera and period dress.
Rojo explains that many other influences -- such as Kung Fu -- also pervade recent developments in Chinese dance.
From Royal Ballet to Beijing —
Rojo explains that many other influences -- such as Kung Fu -- also pervade recent developments in Chinese dance.
Like music, sport and education, ballet training starts young in China. Here, a group of Chinese children takes ballet class at an exclusive kindergarten in Beijing.
From Royal Ballet to Beijing —
Like music, sport and education, ballet training starts young in China. Here, a group of Chinese children takes ballet class at an exclusive kindergarten in Beijing.
Rojo and Fei Bo -- himself a graduate of the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy -- rehearse their Fusion Journey collaborative dance "Life is a Dream," about a philosopher who wakes from a dream unsure of what reality is.
From Royal Ballet to Beijing —
Rojo and Fei Bo -- himself a graduate of the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy -- rehearse their Fusion Journey collaborative dance "Life is a Dream," about a philosopher who wakes from a dream unsure of what reality is.
Returning to London, Rojo performs "Life is a Dream" at the London Coliseum -- alongside her Chinese goldfish. The show was in honor of Russian ballet star Anna Pavlova, widely regarded as one of the finest classical dancers in history. "Anna Pavlova always did performances about birds or butterflies and being that this is about whether I am a human being or a fish, I thought it would fit in well with the theme of the show," reflected Rojo.
From Royal Ballet to Beijing —
Returning to London, Rojo performs "Life is a Dream" at the London Coliseum -- alongside her Chinese goldfish. The show was in honor of Russian ballet star Anna Pavlova, widely regarded as one of the finest classical dancers in history. "Anna Pavlova always did performances about birds or butterflies and being that this is about whether I am a human being or a fish, I thought it would fit in well with the theme of the show," reflected Rojo.