Tan Yuanyuan, artistic director of Suzhou Ballet. [Photo provided to China Daily]

For Love Bridge, Hu Song Wei Ricky, the resident choreographer of the Hong Kong Ballet, and his wife, choreographer Mai Jingwen, worked as the production's choreographer and scriptwriter.

The couple and Tan met in Hong Kong in 2024 when the Hong Kong Ballet's production, The Butterfly Lovers, choreographed by the couple, was staged. Tan and Wang Quanxing, president of the Suzhou Ballet, watched the performance.

"Tan Yuanyuan came up with the brilliant concept of turning the entire production (Love Bridge) into a time-travel theme, allowing it to break free from tradition while incorporating more diverse and rich audiovisual elements. Building on this idea, we integrated Chinese classical dance, classical ballet and contemporary ballet in Love Bridge," says Mai.

While Love Bridge embraces traditional Chinese themes, it also incorporates specific regional elements, especially from Suzhou.

The production features elements of Jiangnan (referring to the southern regions of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River), such as the graceful portrayal of water lilies and the iconic small bridges found in Suzhou's ancient gardens.

These subtle cultural markers not only add authenticity but also highlight the region's rich heritage.

"In this piece, audiences will see Suzhou's distinctive charms in the stage design and in some of the folk dance choreography," Tan says.

"It's our way of incorporating local culture into this grand ballet while still remaining true to the essence of the story."

Love Bridge also reflects Tan's vision for the future of the company, one that embraces both classical ballet traditions and innovative new works that reflect China's growing cultural influence.