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Created and premiered in 1964, The Red Detachment of Women fuses the athleticism and rigour of Chinese ballet with a stylish design and striking original score.
Set in the 1930s on the lush tropical island of Hainan, The Red Detachment of Women is based on the stories of an all-female company of the communist Red Army.
Famously performed for President Nixon and Henry Kissinger on their visit to China in 1972 its imagery has become cemented in western popular culture. The Red Detachment of Women remains one of China's most significant ballets for local audiences and more recently the company’s flagship work performing in the great houses of Europe and North America.
Exclusively for Asia TOPA festival, the ballet is performed by an ensemble of 70 dancers accompanied by Orchestra Victoria and local choir to produce a spectacular presentation of one of the most memorable cultural works of the modern era.
