China draws ballerina home
San Francisco Ballet principal dancer Tan Yuanyuan announced Monday she has accepted a guest position in Hong Kong, saying she wants to give back to her country.
One of the world’s top ballerinas, Tan told a press conference in Hong Kong she will join the Hong Kong Ballet as guest principal dancer and debut in June in the production “Tricolor.”
Shanghai-native Tan, who made principal dancer in San Francisco in 1997 at age 21, said she wants to spend more time in her home country.
“I’ve danced with the San Francisco Ballet since I was 18. So I think right now is about time I want to give something back to China. And Hong Kong Ballet made me a wonderful offer I cannot turn down,” she said.
Tan said she also hopes to work with National Ballet of China and the Shanghai Ballet in mainland China.
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