Susanne Grinder and Ulrik Birkkjær, principal ballet dancers of Royal Danish Ballet, are invited to perform the lead roles in La Sylphide. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Top dancers from National Ballet of China and Royal Danish Ballet performed the noted classical ballet La Sylphide last Friday and Saterday at Tianqiao Theater in Beijing.

La Sylphide first premiered in 1836, and is the representative repertoire of the Danish Ballet School. It is a tragic love story, about a Scottish peasant, James, who was going to marry his cousin Effie. However, on the day of their engagement, he was seduced by a witch's evil magic and abandoned Effie. He followed the witch’s order, ran into the woods with Sylphide, the fairy of the forest, and wrapped a scarf around her. He thought that by doing so he would have her forever, but tangled by the scarf, Sylphide died in his arms.