Best bets

Lanzhou Dance Troupe Dunhuang Dream

Date: Aug 4-5 - 7:30 pm

Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts

Price: 60-500 yuan

Dunhuang Dream is a full-length Dunhuang-themed dance drama created and produced by Lanzhou Dance Troupe. It was performed for the first time in Beijing in April 2000 to mark the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Dunhuang Sutra Cave and the beginning of Dunhuang Studies. As of now, the dance drama has been performed for nearly 1200 times around the world and has won a number of awards in China. Lanzhou Dance Troupe was founded in 1970. It has performed over ten pieces of full-length dance dramas, dance poems and suite dances, and appeared at over 500 grand evening parties as well as many different styles of song and dance parties and concerts in China.

Awake Love Orchestra: Storytelling Music Journey by Awake Projects, Sweden

Date: Aug 4-6 - 2:30 pm/7:30 pm

Venue: Beijing Comedy Theater

Price: 60-300 yuan

Awake Projects team derives from different performing disciplines and arts all over Scandinavia, Europe, USA and even from Australia. The team is dedicated to their art and at the same time are willing to explore unknown territory and develop through learning from each other. As Robert Wilson said, "The Love Orchestra offers a unique experience combining folk, choral, gypsy, pop and classical music whilst performing with a powerful interconnectedness, offbeat humor and a rare sweetness that is mesmerizing, entrancing and transforming. They work with cello, guitars, keyboard and a range of percussion but it is their voices with their harmonies and an extraordinary vocal range that draws you in and never lets you go."

Classical Ballet Semifinal-Session 1

Date: Aug 5 - 7:30 pm

Venue: National Center for Performing Arts

Price: 50/100 yuan

Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition is hosted by NCPA and organised by Beijing Xiaoxing Ballet Art Development Foundation with the support of Beijing Municipal Government. The Competition has been held for three times since 2011, and for this year, it will last from Aug 4 to 11. This competition is divided into two parts: classical ballet and choreography. The age limit for the classical ballet division ranges from 14 to 22, and that for the choreography division is between 18 and 40. Also, contestants must be a professional performer or choreographer.

The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass

Date: July 30 - 7:30 pm

Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts

Price: 80-400 yuan

The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass is composed of some of America's top brass musicians dedicated to bringing the joyous experience of great music to a wide range of audiences. The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass is a family owned and operated business that had its beginning on the streets of New Orleans. On the advice of Ellis Marsalis, the group created a concert format that breaks the usual barriers between genres and strives to create connection between the audience and performers.

British Royal Opera House Ballet film Romeo and Juliet

Date: Aug 10 - 2:30 pm

Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts

Price: 60 yuan

Romeo and Juliet fall passionately in love and secretly married, despite their families are sworn enemies. Hoever, Romeo kills Juliet's cousin Tybalt in a fight and gets exiled. Juliet's family expects to have her married to Paris. In order to escape from the marriage, Juliet takes a fake potion that makes her appear lifeless. Failing to receive Juliet's message explaining her plan, Romeo goes to her tomb and gets suicide upon hearing her death. As Juliet wakes up, se sees Romeo dead, so she stabs herself as well.

NCPA Opera Jinsha River

Date: July 29-Aug 02 - 7:30 pm

Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts

Price: 100-880 yuan

NCPA opera commission Jinsha River is created at the 90th Anniversary of the Birth of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The opera is adapted from a novel of the same name, published in 1959. Chen Jing, the author of this novel, is a military writer focusing on themes of the Long March, which he personally experienced. Jinsha River tells the story happened between the Red Army trekking on the Long March and people living in Tibetan areas along the Jinsha River. This novel was once adapted into a Pingju Opera work (1959). In 1963, it also has a film adaptation of the same name.