Reflections on the Ups and Downs of a Red Ballet Classic

                                                                                        ——The Red Detachment of Women

  Abstract: The Red Detachment of Women is a unique and brilliant ballet created before and modified during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) and disappeared after it. It made a comeback after more than a decade’s absence. Artistically speaking, this is a work of art which combines western ballet basic elements with some Chinese art ingredients, and it has won both popular and critical acclaim both at home and abroad. However, its inescapable link with China’s politics has made it a controversial topic which is worth deeper research.  

  Keywords: ballet; The Red Detachment of Women; Jiang Qing; Cultural Revolution

  Haihong Ji: School of Foreign Languages & Cultures, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China, E-mail: jhhforever@hotmail.com

  *Corresponding author, Shan Shao: School of Foreign Languages & Cultures, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China, E-mail: shaoshanstudio@163.com