Ulaanbaatar
Mongolian ballet celebrates 30th anniversary
PoliticsUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ This year marks the 30th anniversary of Three Hills of Misfortune ballet which was first staged on March 28, 30 years from now.
In commemoration of the anniversary, three generations of Mongolian ballet dancers are going to stage a special performance for Mongolian ballet lovers on March 25, Saturday at Mongolian State Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet.
Based on famous Mongolian writer D.Natsagdorj’s tragic opera ‘Dramatic Three Hills’ which can be understood as Mongolian Romeo and Juliet, the ballet was finally delivered to Mongolian audience after State Honored Cultural Figure B.Jamiyandagva worked on the choreography for about 20 years. The ballet’s music was composed by State Honored Artist J.Mend-Amar.
“When they first staged the Dramatic Three Hills opera in the 1960s, they changed the ending to a happy one which received backlash from both audiences and critics. Then after about 20 years, we staged its ballet version with the original plot, and I would say, audience reaction was very positive with a number of people congratulating me”, recalled B.Jamiyandagva.
Since then, the ballet has been performed 132 times by generations of Mongolian ballet dancers. State Foremost Artist N.Erdenetsetseg, who was the first Nansalmaa, the female protagonist also shared, “When B.Jamiyandagva choreographed the ballet, he complied with the rules of ballet choreography but added traditional Mongolian dance elements which made the ballet altogether very traditional and unique”.
