Raymond Bai (L front) performs as Fritz in a dress rehearsal of the Norwegian National Ballet's traditional Christmas production "The Nutcracker" in Oslo, capital of Norway, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Norwegian National Opera & Ballet/Handout via Xinhua)

OSLO, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese dancers are taking prominent roles in the Norwegian National Ballet's traditional Christmas production of "The Nutcracker."

Last Saturday, Chinese dancer Dingkai Bai, a member of the Norwegian National Ballet, performed as the Nutcracker Prince, while Raymond Bai, a student at the Norwegian National Ballet School, portrayed Fritz, Clara's younger brother -- with Clara being the young girl whose Christmas Eve dream lies at the heart of the story.

The production opened last week in Oslo and is set to run through Dec. 22, with 23 performances planned and more than 30,000 spectators expected to attend.

Christine Thomassen, head of the Norwegian National Ballet School, said that the school, together with the Norwegian National Ballet, works actively to give young people from diverse backgrounds the chance to develop.

Both dancers, with black hair and dark eyes, bring a different look to a production that is a long-standing part of many Norwegian families' Christmas traditions.

In the current version, created by former company soloist Kaloyan Boyadjiev, the story is set in Oslo more than a century ago, with Clara's diplomat family welcoming guests "from many countries" to their Christmas party.

Ingrid Lorentzen, artistic director of the Norwegian National Ballet, said "The Nutcracker" has become an important gateway to ballet for audiences in Norway and abroad. ■

Dingkai Bai (R) performs as the Nutcracker Prince in a dress rehearsal of the Norwegian National Ballet's traditional Christmas production "The Nutcracker" in Oslo, capital of Norway, on Nov. 27, 2025. (Norwegian National Opera & Ballet/Handout via Xinhua)