Dancing wows crowds in land of rising sun; Birmingham Royal Ballet has been flying the flag for Birmingham in Japan. Birmingham Mail theatre editor DIANE PARKES joined them in Tokyo. Theatre.

Byline: DIANE PARKES

BIRMINGHAM Royal Ballet is proclaiming its New Year tour of Japan a huge success after nearly every ticket for its performances sold out before the shows even opened.

And on the first night in Tokyo the company was given rapturous applause after the Japanese premiere of Beauty and the Beast, the ballet created by BRB director David Bintley four years ago and dedicated to the City of Birmingham.

During a three week tour featuring the cities of Tokyo, Otsu and Osaka, the company is giving nine performances of Beauty and the Beast and of Delibes' Coppelia.

And there is no resting between performances as the company has also been kept busy rehearsing Swan Lake which is due to open the spring season in Birmingham next month.

The tour helps ensure the company's international reputation.

It will be followed by BRB's first visit to Belfast next month and plans are already afoot for a tour to China next year. This week the company was joined by Birmingham Lord Mayor Randal Brew and Lady Mayoress Sandra Brew as special guests.

BRB director David Bintley, who was mobbed by autograph hunters following the opening night, is delighted at the progress of the tour.

"Birmingham Royal Ballet's return to Japan after 13 years has been an enormous success not only for the audiences but for the company as a whole," he says.

CAPTION(S):

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST...Ambra Vallo and Chi Cao.