Carolina Ballet, recognized as one of the top 10 ballet companies in the United States, first staged the update of the classic two years ago to acclaim in New York City. The new version was created to honor modern ballet master George Balanchine on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

The new "Swan Lake" is a more modern telling of the love story of a prince and an enchanted white swan. The current production adds modern music to Tchaikovsky's score.

The 32 dancers in the Carolina Ballet come from 10 different countries. Two Chinese, Yang Hong and Ni Wei, will be performing with the company, which has been called "a United Nations in the field of ballet."

Balanchine's contemporary approach to ballet is rarely seen in China. The Balanchine style that emerged in the 1940s and 1950s rested firmly on classical technique wedded to modernist concerns. Critics called the new "Swan Lake" bold in its choreography, with praise from The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Ni was previously a principal dancer in the Guangzhou Ballet. In 1999, he went to the United States and was a member of three ballet groups in three different states within four years.

In 2003, he joined the Carolina Ballet, which focuses on Balanchine's modern style. Part of the international atmosphere, Ni said he heard several different languages when the dancers in the group got together socially or to practice.

"It's different from being a dancer in China," Ni said. "People don't practice one dance for a long time since we'll have at least six performances in one season. Every month a new program shows up. With such a busy schedule, everyone focuses on his own part and tries to embody the best performance within a short time."

Editor: Wing