Choreographers’ Showcase 2016

Nurturing Local Choreographic Talent and
Celebrating Our Dancers’ Creativity and Versatility

[Hong Kong – 29 July 2016] Committed to unleashing the creative talent of and showcasing new works by rising dance-makers, Hong Kong Ballet’s annual Choreographers’ Showcase series has fast attracted a loyal following that resulted in two sold-out showcases in 2014 and 2015. There’s much to look forward to from Hong Kong choreographers in the 2016/17 edition, and the Company is excited to play a role in developing the future of Hong Kong dance.

Artistic Director of Hong Kong Ballet Madeleine Onne said, “The Company is always innovating, and its annual Choreographers’ Showcase continues to serve as a dance lab for emerging creative talent. We have seen some of our own dancers developing into true choreographers, and we have also reached out to collaborate with new, exciting Hong Kong choreographers.”

This year's choreographers include the Company’s dancers - Jia-bo Li, Ka-chun Hui, Ryo Kato, Chun-long Leung, Lin Li and Jonathan Spigner - together with three promising local choreographers in Hong Kong: Jun Chen, Chao-ya He and Justyne Li. They will delight and inspire audiences by presenting their creations in the intimate surroundings of the Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre from 23 to 25 September 2016 (Friday to Sunday). Tickets are available at URBTIX now.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see how the boundaries of ballet are pushed, and experience the versatility and energy of our dance artists up close and personal!

About the pieces and the choreographers

Dan·Sheng by Jun Chen^#
Jun Chen, Principal Dancer of Hong Kong Dance Company, creates a new piece about an artist in today’s modern world navigating traditional culture, inheriting traditions and becoming enlightened as a result. In this work, the dancers perform, at different times, hua-dan and wu-sheng (young female role and male martial arts role in Chinese opera), both of whom are engaged in a reiterative process of self exploration and self-generation with exchanges of emotions and dialogue amongst themselves and their roles.

Jun Chen

Graduating with distinction from the affiliated middle school of Beijing Dance Academy, Jun Chen is a Principal Dancer of Hong Kong Dance Company and a member of Chinese Dancers Association. He has won numerous awards, including Hong Kong Dance Award 2006 and "Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer" at Hong Kong Dance Awards 2012. In 2006, Chen created two works with Xing Liang — I, Think and Walk Alone—which were selected among the “Ten Best” in the Youth Modern Dance division at the 3^rd Seoul International Dance Competition. In 2005, he choreographed Liang Ye Chuang Qing, which won Best Choreography Award at the Bauhinia Cup Hong Kong Dance Championship. In 2014, his work Solitude-Dream received the silver prize at the 8^th Shenzhen Creative Dance Competition.

Night Thoughts by Chao-ya He^# & Jia-bo Li
Thoughts grow in the dark of night amidst countless stars and the moon high above. Stretched fingers slowly turn into figures dancing with each other, and shadows join in. Thoughts emerge through the imagination, and the dancing figures embody an intense mood in the moonlight…

Principal Dancer Jia-bo Li joins hands with Chao-ya He from Hong Kong Dance to reveal thoughts, pain, bitterness and memories that ambush during the long night.

Chao-ya He

A graduate of the Chinese Dance Department of the Guangdong Dance School in 2003, Chao-ya He joined Hong Kong Dance Company in 2007 after further study with a full scholarship at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He has won numerous awards including the Golden Award for Group Dance in the Minority Groups Dance Gala, Golden Award at the Guangdong Song of Youth Dance Competition and the Golden Award for International Standard Dance at the Guangzhou Architectural Cup Competition. His recent performances include a pas de deux in Dance Roots, Father in Joseph Koo’s Classic Melodies, lead dancer in Two Swallows – Ode to Wu Guanzhong, Couple in Pop Classics: Joseph Koo’s Dance Melodies 2013, Zhou in Plateau Bluebells and Elder Son in Red Poppies (2014).

Jia-bo Li

Born in Shanghai, China, Jia-bo Li trained at Shanghai Far East Ballet School and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He joined Hong Kong Ballet as a member of the Corps de Ballet in 2005, was named Soloist in 2012 and became Principal Dancer in 2014.

With Hong Kong Ballet, Li has danced principal or featured roles including Prince Désiré and Blue Bird in Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty, Basilio in Ananiashvili’s Don Quixote, Prince in both Jefferies’ and Kohler’s The Nutcracker, Geppetto in Isberg’s Pinocchio, Prince in Allan’s Cinderella, Romeo in van Dantzig’s Romeo and Juliet, Camille in Hynd’s The Merry Widow, Pao Yu in Xin-peng Wang’s The Dream of the Red Chamber and Prince Calaf in Weir’s Turandot. He has presented choreographic works at Hong Kong Ballet’s Choreographers’ Showcase, including Keep Watch (2015), Going Home (2014), Unable to Rewind (2012) and Ambush (2008). He also choreographed Something We Always Carry (2013).

Re… by Ka-chun Hui
The living room symbolizes a calm and peaceful place that also serves as a space for change and uncertainties. People get various inspirations through repeating, rebuilding, redeveloping, re-… movements due to different physical attributes, meanings or intentions. With the dancers’ movements, emotions and dialogue, Hui’s new creation explores the dynamic themes of 'home' and 'process'.

Ka-chun Hui

Born in Hong Kong, Ka-chun Hui graduated with first-class honours from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, concentration in Ballet. He joined Hong Kong Ballet as an apprentice in 2014 before becoming a member of the Corps de Ballet in 2015. With Hong Kong Ballet, Hui has danced in Conus’ Swan Lake Act III, Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty, Kohler’s The Nutcracker, Isberg’s Pinocchio, Weir’s Turandot, Duato’s Castrati, Pastor’s In Light and Shadow and Fei Bo’s Shenren Chang. Hui premièred his choreographic work, Panta Rhei, at Hong Kong Ballet’s Choreographers’ Showcase in 2015.

Shogun by Ryo Kato
Based on a true story from 16th century Japan, Kato’s new piece depicts the endless battles in which samurai participated to secure a shogun title in the shogunate.

Ryo Kato

Born in Saitama, Japan, Ryo Kato trained at the National Conservatory of Dance School in Portugal and was a Soloist of State Ballet of Georgia in 2012. He joined Hong Kong Ballet as a member of the Corps de Ballet in 2015 and was named Soloist in 2016. With Hong Kong Ballet, Kato has danced featured and main roles including Prince in Kohler’s The Nutcracker, Blue Bird in Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty and Paris in van Dantzig’s Romeo and Juliet. He has also danced in Balanchine’s Serenade and Fei Bo’s Shenren Chang. Kato was a finalist at Prix de Lausanne, Switzerland in 2012. He won a gold medal at Tanzolymp Berlin in 2011 and first prize at both the NBA Ballet Competition and Tokyo All Ballet Competition in 2010.

by Chun-long Leung
Multiple personalities in an individual are like having several souls co-existing together in one body. Different personalities control the body and its behavior in turns. Depending on the environment, event or person with whom one is interacting, various identities become evident in the emotions and reactions related to the situation. Leung’s new piece attempts to interpret this complex condition through dance.

Chun-long Leung

Born in Hong Kong, Chun-long Leung graduated from Beijing Dance Academy in 2009 and from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2011, with a concentration in Ballet. He joined Hong Kong Ballet as a member of the Corps de Ballet the same year and was named Coryphée in 2014. With Hong Kong Ballet, Leung has danced main or featured roles including Pinocchio in Isberg’s Pinocchio, Fritz and Rat King in Kohler’s The Nutcracker and Jewels in Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty. He has also performed in Ananiashvili’s Don Quixote, Weir’s Turandot, Balanchine’s Serenade, Duato’s Castrati, Fei Bo’s Shenren Chang and Edwaard Liang’s Sacred Thread. Leung received an Outstanding Performance Award at the Taoli Cup Dance Competition in 2003.

Dance Internship by Justyne Li
An electric current is injected into the dancer’s nerves, initiating a new and unfamiliar perspective on harmony, logic, patterns, rhythm, time and space. After this unusual catalyst, the day-to-day routine soon confuses the dancer. Worse, the dancer now has to face inner demons, who eagerly wait for a chance to integrate within the dancer. Ex-Hong Kong Ballet dancer Justyne Li returns with a dramatic new work about a dancer’s path.

Justyne Li

A graduate of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, School of Dance, Ballet and Modern Dance Streams, Justyne Li is a former member of Hong Kong Ballet and Tanz Graz (Austria) and was a soloist with Ballett Bremerhaven (Germany). Currently working as an independent dancer and choreographer, she recently performed at M1 CONTACT Contemporary Dance Festival, d’MOTION International Dance Festival, Guangdong Dance Festival and Beijing Dance Festival. Her recent choreographic works include Human Internship (2016), The Trouble-maker’s Concerto (2015), Present Absentee (2014), What’s the Matter (2013) and Galatea X (2013), which won “Outstanding Achievement in Choreography” and “Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer” at the Hong Kong Dance Awards 2014. Galatea and Pygmalion (2010 & 2013) received the Hong Kong Dance Award 2011 for “Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance”. She established Neo Dance HK with Wong Tan Ki in 2010.

Follow Your Heart by Lin Li
Everything arises from his needs, his desires and his thoughts. Follow your heart, ignore mundane viewpoints and realize your true self. Li’s new work illustrates a story from a male perspective.

Lin Li

Born in Zhejiang, China, Lin Li trained at Beijing Dance Academy. He joined Hong Kong Ballet as a member of the Corps de Ballet in 2010 and was named Soloist in 2014. With Hong Kong Ballet, Li has danced featured and main roles including Prince in Kohler’s The Nutcracker, Von Rothbart in Meehan’s Swan Lake, Prince Calaf and Timur in Weir’s Turandot, Geppetto and Fox in Isberg’s Pinocchio, Jewels in Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty, Tybalt in van Dantzig’s Romeo and Juliet, Peasant Pas de Deux in Meehan and Mei-fang Lin’s Giselle, Espada in Ananiashvili’s Don Quixote, Camille in Hynd’s The Merry Widow, Lead Jester in Allan’s Cinderella, The Man In Black in Yuri Ng’s Firecracker. He won second prize at the Taoli Cup Dance Competition in 2009 and premièred his work, Break Away, at Hong Kong Ballet’s Choreographers’ Showcase in 2014.

Passion Flower by Jonathan Spigner
Spigner’s new work illustrates the importance of living in the moment without fear in order to experience care and love. Helping each other to find one another, which actually helps oneself at the same time.

Jonathan Spigner

Born in South Carolina, USA, Jonathan Spigner trained at the South Carolina Governor’s School of Arts and Humanities and at Académie Princesse Grace in Monte Carlo. He joined Hong Kong Ballet as a member of the Corps de Ballet in 2010 and was named Coryphée in 2014. With Hong Kong Ballet, Spigner has danced featured roles including Fritz and Spanish Doll in Kohler’s The Nutcracker, Puss in Boots in Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty, Gamache in Anaiashvili’s Don Quixote, Executed Prince in Weir’s Turandot and Young Uncle Tak in Yuri Ng’s Firecracker. Spigner has premièred choreographic works at Hong Kong Ballet's Choreographers’ Showcase, including Days Gone By (2015), Wepart (2014), Overview Effect (2012) and (The Wonderful Known Tick) (2011). He also choreographed SoLo (2013). Spigner received awards from Youth America Grand Prix regional competitions in 2004, 2008 and 2009.

# With the kind permission of Hong Kong Dance Company

Performance Details
23-25.9.2016
Fri & Sat 8:00pm | Sun 3:00pm
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
$280, $180 | *$140, $90
Three performances
Ticketing Enquiries: 3761 6661
Credit Card Booking: 2111 5999
Internet Booking: www.urbtix.hk
Programme Enquiries: 2105 9724

Suitable for ages 6 and above
The presenter reserves the right to alter the programme and artists
The performance lasts approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, including an intermission.

Discounts

Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discounts for each purchase.

15% off food and beverage at InterContinental Hong Kong 
Ticket holders can enjoy 15% off food and beverage in all restaurants and bars at InterContinental Hong Kong before or after the performance upon presentation of their tickets on the performance date. For details, please call 2313 2323 or email to [email protected].

Post-performance Meet-the-Artist Session
23.9.2016 Fri
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre
Conducted in English
Admission with performance tickets

Champagne Partner	Make-Up Partner

DOWNLOAD PRESS PHOTOS 

[Click on the photo to download full image] 

Photo 1: Choreographers’ Showcase 2016 promotional image | Dancer: Jie Shen| Photographer: Tim Wong

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Photo 2: Choreographers’ Showcase 2016 promotional image | Dancers (from left): Ge Gao and Miao-miao Liu | Photographer: Tim Wong

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About Hong Kong Ballet

An eclectic mix of talent, a balance of classical and contemporary works, and a unique repertoire are the trademarks of Hong Kong Ballet, Asia’s premier ballet company. Internationally recognised and acclaimed for its creativity, talent and artistry, the Company, led by Artistic Director Madeleine Onne, is committed to providing captivating experiences that delight and inspire audiences from all walks of life, both at home and abroad.

For further information, please contact:
Nick Chan
Director of Marketing
T: 2105 9716
M: 9728 1777
[email protected]