Oscar-winning actress Juliette Binoche rehearsed her dance drama "In-I" for the first time in front of cameras on Thursday. But what was meant to be a kind gesture turned out as a slight disappointment.

Juliette Binoche (left) and Akram Khan rehearse the dance drama "In-I" in Beijing on April 2, 2009. [ent.sina.com.cn]

The French actress is in Beijing preparing for a three-day run of "In-I", her modern dance debut in co-operation with British-Bangladeshi dancer/choreographer Akram Khan.

"In a bid to thank the Beijing media, the two thespians have arranged the show's first-ever open rehearsal," Sina.com.cn cited the drama's Chinese distributor as saying.

The rehearsal was delayed for almost half an hour. Cui Yang, whose company is responsible for the drama's promotions in China, explained that the actors had been waiting for the stage temperature to reach 22 degrees Celsius. Cui says extra money had been paid to have the theater turn on all its air-conditioners.

Yet when Binoche finally started to dance, she left the stage in the middle of the show. Khan followed her, saying it was too cold.

Despite the disappointing rehearsal, Cui Yang says he will ensure a warmer stage when the show premieres at the Mei Lanfang Grand Theater on Friday night.

"In-I" arrives in China after touring Europe, North America and Australia. All the tickets to its Beijing premiere have been sold out, according to Sina.

(CRI April 4, 2009)