The Suzhou Ballet Theatre performed for the first time at the Victoria Theatre in Barcelona, Spain from Sept 16 to 17. With two performances of "Ballet Masterpieces Collection," the Victoria Theatre's "2023 Dance Season" opened in a grand manner under the promotion of China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd (CAEG). This was also the first appearance of the "Image China" brand in Spain.

Guests including Consul General Hu Aimin of the Chinese Consulate in Barcelona, Deputy Representative Josefa Beltran Bertomeu of the Central Government of Spain in Barcelona, Commissioner for Citizen Relations, Multiculturalism and Religious Affairs of the Barcelona City Council Sara Belbeida, Director of External Affairs of the Barcelona City Government Felip Roca, and President of the University of Barcelona Joan Guardia Olmos attended the premiere on Sept 16. The two performances received a warm welcome from the Barcelona audience, giving the dancers standing ovations and cheers.  The ballet troupe took seven curtain calls at the end of the performance.

Founded in 2007, the Suzhou Ballet Theatre is the only professional ballet troupe in Jiangsu province. Called "first-class in China, internationally renowned," the troupe adheres to the founding principle of "centered on actors and centered on performances," and has staged large-scale productions such as "Romeo and Juliet," "The Nutcracker," "Swan Lake," "Xi Shi," "Tang Yin," "Magnificent Clouds," as well as many dance works that showcase the charm of Suzhou's cultural characteristics. The troupe has created unique "Jiangnan Ballet" and has visited more than 70 cities in more than 10 countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Singapore.

The Suzhou Ballet Theatre toured Barcelona, Spain for the first time, presenting original modern Chinese ballet works with Suzhou flavor such as "Suzhou Misty Love," "Sleepless Night," "Dream Shock," "Suzhou Embroidery," as well as the world-renowned "The Rite of Spring." The performances received wide acclaim.

Carlos Bianchini, the director of Victoria Theatre's "2023 Dance Season," said, "Choosing the program of Suzhou Ballet Troupe as the opening performance of the dance season was a decision made after extensive discussion and careful selection. The fact has proven that this decision is undoubtedly correct. The ballet troupe from China presented two highly professional and richly themed performances, far beyond our imagination. We look forward to more Chinese art groups coming to Barcelona for performances."

Josefa Beltran Bertomeu, deputy representative of the Central Government of Spain in Barcelona, said in praise, "The performance brought the poetic charm of southern China to Spain and allowed the local people to experience the charm of Chinese ballet up close. This was an extremely successful fusion of Chinese and Western art."

After the premiere, Consul General Hu Aimin of the Chinese Consulate in Barcelona joined the guests on stage to congratulate the successful performance and took photos with the performers. He pointed out that as an important brand for cultural exchanges with foreign countries, the activity pushed high-quality performing arts groups and productions into the mainstream society of Spain on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Spain. This is of great significance to promote cultural and artistic exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

Since its establishment in 2009, the "Image China" brand has sent more than 40 selected productions from over 30 Chinese art groups to perform in major countries in the Americas, Europe, and Oceania, with a cumulative audience of millions. After the performances in Spain, the "Image China" brand will soon make its debut in the United States, sending the Ningbo Performing Arts Group's ballet production "Mulang" to perform six shows in Boston and Washington, D.C.