Aladdin - Which Aladdin is your favorite? - A story about being moved by the New National Theatre Ballet

When you hear the name "Aladdin," which Aladdin comes to mind?
"Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" is one of the most famous stories in "The Arabian Nights" (One Thousand and One Nights), but it is a well-known tale that has also become a Disney animated film, a later live-action movie, a musical, and even a ballet production.

I first learned about Aladdin through the Disney feature-length animated film. I was in elementary school at the time, and my family was obsessed with Disney feature films like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. I have fond memories of getting the videos bought for me every Christmas and watching them over and over again with my sisters.

So, in my mind, Aladdin was synonymous with the Disney animated film. That was until I saw the ballet by the National Ballet of Japan.

Ever since I saw The Nutcracker, I became a huge fan of the National Ballet of Japan and started making sure to see every new production they staged.

Coppélia, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, The Tales of Hoffmann, La Bayadère. They were all wonderful. Since I had learned the stories of all the works I had seen up until then through ballet, I watched them without any preconceived notions. However, for me, Aladdin was the Aladdin from the Disney movie, and I had strong memories of the romantic scene between Aladdin and Princess Jasmine, set to the theme song "A Whole New World" which played frequently in the film.

So, I was surprised when I first saw the visuals.

Takafumi Watanabe as the Genie of the Lamp is the main visual!
What an incredibly powerful visual!!!

I went to see it with excitement, wondering what kind of production it would be,
and I found myself drawn into the story expressed through dance.

First, the fight scene in the market at the beginning—Yudai Fukuoka as Aladdin jumping, spinning, and dancing at such high speed! It was the first time I had ever seen such a spectacular ballet right from the start.
The amount of physical exertion from the very beginning must be extraordinary, don't you think?

Then, Aladdin sets off on a journey to the desert.
The dancing of the desert wind dancers who appear there was so beautiful that I was mesmerized.

In the scene where the jewels appear, it was like a luxurious showtime with many soloists dressed in costumes that vividly projected the image of jewels. In particular, Kasumi Okuda's speedy and sparkling dance as the Diamond was charming, and it was burned into my memory—it was just wonderful♪

Princess Ayako Ono was beautiful and elegant, and I was enchanted in every scene.

And finally, the Genie of the Lamp appears!
The impact of Takafumi Watanabe's entrance as the Genie was incredible, his dancing was super, super, super dynamic, and the sense of unity and presence of the Genie's attendants,
and their aura was amazing!!!!!
This power was truly a masterpiece, a masterpiece, a masterpiece!!

Every scene is wonderful, and the National Theatre's Aladdin is a production I definitely want to see again. I was thinking about how I wanted to see it on video and hoping they would offer a paid stream, but it turns out the National Theatre's Aladdin will be available for free streaming starting late at night on September 20th!!!!

I am incredibly excited about this!
It will be available for six months, so please be sure to watch it✨