Having been staged numerous times in China and around the world, "Raise the Red Lantern" by the National Ballet of China is returning to Beijing Tianqiao Theater, the very place where it debuted in 2001. It will begin a series of performances to celebrate the troupe's 55th anniversary.

Adapted from Zhang Yimou's 1991 movie of the same name, "Raise the Red Lantern" takes a critical look at the struggles and survivals of Chinese women in feudal China, through the complicated relationships between a wife and her husband's younger concubines.

A modern ballet of cinematic range and with exquisite costumes, the piece is a milestone in the company's 55-year history.

"I'm playing the heroine for Thursday's show and I'm honored. It's one of the most important pieces that the troupe has ever produced. And I've spent a lot of time studying my character as well as the performance of my predecessors to bring out something that would touch the audience," said National Ballet of China dancer Liu Qi.

Aspects of Chinese culture can be seen throughout the show. The scenes of Peking Opera mixed with ballet moves and a wedding night are presented in a shadow play, which is full of tension and lust. The rattling sound of a mahjong game and the clanging percussion of a traditional Chinese orchestra are also infused into the original score by Chen Qigang.

"Like the ‘Red Detachment of Women’, it's a repertoire that has a strong presence Chinese elements. So there's always room for improvement. When you have new ballet dancers, they will bring something new to the stage. Through every rendition, whether it's the dancers, the orchestra, everyone is constantly perfecting the show. And I think that's the beauty of it," said artistic director of National Ballet of China Feng Ying.