The renowned Shanghai Ballet has invited Zhang Wenhong, head of Shanghai's COVID-19 clinical experts' team, to watch its latest public performance of the classic play Swan Lake.

The performance will be held on June 18-19 and be the first since the company restarted ticket sales this Tuesday after temporary closure due to the COVID-10 pandemic.

Other representatives of medical professionals who have made great contributions to pandemic prevention and control were also invited to the performance.

Earlier, on April 10, epidemiologist Zhang met Shanghai Ballet dancers at an art exhibition focusing on the fight against COVID-19 as a theme. Zhang said he hoped that doctors could have more free time to enjoy the arts. If doctors can do so, we can tell that the pandemic has been in control.

Xin Lili, executive director of Shanghai Ballet, said the dancers have been waiting for the day to perform and express their gratitude to frontline health care workers for their hard work and sacrifice.

This version of Swan Lake was choreographed by Derek Deane, former artistic director of English National Ballet. With a large group of 48 dancers, the ballet premiered in 2015 and has since brought more than 100 shows to audiences around the world.

The Swan Lake performance will also be staged at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing in July, and Shanghai Ballet's classics The Last Mission of Marco Polo and The White-Haired Girl will also meet the public in Shanghai in June.