Five world-class ballet companies will compete with China's top ballet troupe at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in the "Fusion and Harmony -- Second NCPA World Ballet Gala" that opens on Thursday.

The troupes include two from Russia (Kirov Ballet and Mikhailovsky Ballet), the Paris Opera Ballet, the Royal Ballet from Britain, the Staats ballet Berlin and the National Ballet of China.

Over three days, they will showcase 11 classics such as "Don Quixote Pas De Deux," the "Piano Concerto No. 3" and others.

The National Ballet of China will perform its "Piano Concerto No. 3," which is a fusion of ballet and symphony, for the first time. About 60 dancers will perform the famous symphonic masterpiece of the late German ballet choreographer Uwe Scholz, with top dancers like Zhu Yan, Zhang Jian and Wang Qimin heading the list. The award-winning pianist Tan Xiaotang will lead the symphony.

(CRI November 13, 2008)