Shao Junting, center left, and Wang Zihan play the central characters in Beijing Dance Academy’s new version of “The Butterfly Lovers” at the Ahmanson Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. A marketing gimmick refers to the story as “China’s Romeo and Juliet.” (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Shao Junting, center, and the ensemble. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Shao Junting plays the character of Zhu Yingtai. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Shao Junting and Wang Zihan. In the story, Shao’s character disguises herself as a boy to enter school, where she becomes a classmate of Wang’s character, Liang Shanbo. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Wang Zihan, Shao Junting and the ensemble. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Wang Lei goes for a spin during the dance “Emperor Qin Counting His Soldiers” at the Ahmanson Theatre. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Wang Shengfeng, from left, Li Nan, Wang Lei and Wu Suai. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Shao Junting, from left, Zhao Qiao and Chen Chen in “Waist Dancing of Chu Women.” (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
The ensemble in “Lotus Flower in June.” (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times)
Lotus Flower in June (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times)
