Chinese ballet celebrates 50th anniversary

Chinese ballet is celebrating its 50th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the National Ballet of China is launching a series of performances.

The National Ballet of China has come a long way in its 50 years of existence.

Founded in 1959, the heyday of the National Ballet of China came in the late 60's.

Today's Chinese dancers have been exposed to new ways of thinking and dancing since their country first opened its doors to the west in the 1980s.

But to mark the 50th anniversary celebrations, the company is set to stage performances of "The Red Detachment of Women" - a production born during the company's heady first decade.

The upcoming celebrations will require the dancers to tour many cities across China.

In spite of the global recession, Feng Ying, director of the National Ballet of China, remains upbeat and says the company plans to continue expanding both artistically and creatively.