Hong Kong Ballet Announces 2017/18 Season

Highlights include the premières of Anna-Marie Holmes’ Emmy award-winning
Le Corsaire and Christopher Wheeldon’s Rush

[Hong Kong – 18 May 2017] Hong Kong Ballet’s Artistic Director Madeleine Onne announces the productions in the upcoming 2017/18 season, the last season she has planned as Artistic Director. The new season will open in August with the return of Nina Ananiashvili's version of Don Quixote, a fun-filled comedy for the whole family set in the colourful streets of Spain. Guest ballerina lana Salenko, who dances with both Staatsballet Berlin and The Royal Ballet, will take the stage as one of today’s most exciting Kitris, dancing with our own Principal Dancer Shen Jie as her Basilio.

The season will also include the Asian première of the exuberant Emmy award-winning pirate adventure Le Corsaire by Anna-Marie Holmes, with feuding pirates, kidnappings and a dramatic shipwreck, Terence Kohler’s The Nutcracker, a beloved holiday tradition, the annual Choreographers’ Showcase, which presents original, bold new works from emerging dance artists from within the Company, and the popular Ballet Classics for Children: Swan Lake for fans of all ages. The season will conclude with the mixed bill programme Wheeldon, Ratmansky and More, featuring two of today’s most influential choreographers’ works – the Company’s première of Christopher Wheeldon’s jazz-infused Rush and the return of Alexei Ratmansky’s charming one-act ballet Le Carnaval des Animaux.

Subscribe now to enjoy such prestigious benefits as the best price (up to 30% off) and best seats. The subscription period is open until 21 June 2017. For more details, please download the Season Brochure or visit hkballet.com/201718.

This year, the Season Brochure puts the spotlight on the Company’s exceptional dancers with up close and intimate photographs in a natural setting and personal quotes on their thoughts on ballet and dancing. The photos emotionally capture their artistry and are prominently featured throughout the brochure.

Madeleine Onne, who will leave the Company in June, said, “Although I will not be here physically, I have thoughtfully planned most of the season and will be here in spirit for every show. I leave Hong Kong Ballet after eight fantastic years and feel extremely lucky to have worked with such amazing dancers and choreographers during my time here. I also want to thank YOU, dear audience, for all the support you have given me during these years. As a proud Hong Kong resident, I will continue to follow Hong Kong Ballet wherever I am in the world.”

China Everbright Ltd. 20^th Anniversary Presents Don Quixote
25-27.8.2017
Fri 7:30pm | Sat & Sun 2:30pm & 7:30pm
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
$1,000 (VIP tickets), $680, $480, $280, $140
5 performances with live accompaniment
Suitable for ages 3 and above

Guest Appearance
Iana Salenko
Principal Dancer, Staatsballett Berlin
Guest Principal, The Royal Ballet
*Appearance on 26 & 27.8.2017 7:30pm

“A fast-paced feast of non-stop dancing, as entertaining for family audiences as it is satisfying to ballet lovers.” Natasha Rogai, South China Morning Post

Bursting with balletic fireworks and bravura steps, this exuberant production of Don Quixote abounds with love, illusion, daring, and adventure in the colourful streets of Spain. The idealistic, eccentric Don Quixote goes on a quest full of adventures with his loyal squire Sancho Panza in search of his perfect woman, Dulcinea—while real-life lovers Kitri and Basilio battle against all odds to unite in true love.

Based on Petipa/Gorsky’s choreography with Nina Ananiashvili’s staging and additional choreography, this ballet features guest ballerina Iana Salenko (Staatsballet Berlin and The Royal Ballet) and is a tour de force, requiring the dancers to tackle some of the most technically demanding choreography in classical ballet with gravity-defying jetes, fearless lifts, and impressive pirouettes. Based on Cervantes' iconic Spanish novel, Don Quixote is a must-see ballet for all the family—a glorious dance spectacle packed with virtuoso dancing, gorgeous costumes, a fanciful storyline and a lively cast of characters.

Choreography Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky
Staging and Additional choreography Nina Ananiashvili
Music Ludwig Minkus
Artistic Consultant Aleksei Fadeechev
Set and Costume Design Thomas Mika
Lighting Design Billy Chan
Live Accompaniment Hong Kong Sinfonietta
Conductor Benjamin Pope

Programme Plus!
15.8.2017
The Preview of Don Quixote
26.8.2017
Pre-performance Workshop

Title Sponsor

Choreographers’ Showcase 2017
15-17.9.2017
Fri & Sat 8:00pm | Sun 3:00pm
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
$300, $200
3 performances
Suitable for ages 6 and above

“Hong Kong Ballet has a fine tradition of presenting a choreographers’ showcase nearly every year. This enables some of its own dancers to try their hands in creating new pieces.” Kevin Ng, EJ Insight on Choreographers’ Showcase 2016

Praised for “a number of promising first works from new [choreographers]” by South China Morning Post, the annual Choreographers’ Showcase presents original, bold new ballet works from emerging dance artists from within Hong Kong Ballet. Meet the choreographers who are set to elevate Hong Kong’s arts scene in the 21^stcentury with their fresh, progressive pieces at Choreographers’ Showcase 2017. Held in an intimate space, this innovative showcase will leave audiences wanting more. This vibrant collaboration among the Company’s dancers celebrates raw athleticism and dynamic movement to create a truly unique evening of dance.

Programme Plus!
15.9.2017
Meet-the-Artist

UOB Proudly Presents Le Corsaire (Asian Première)
3-5 & 10-12.11.2017
Fri 7:30pm | Sat 2:30pm & 7:30pm | Sun 2:30pm
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
$1,000 (VIP tickets), $680, $480, $280, $140
8 performances with live accompaniment
Suitable for ages 3 and above

“Le Corsaire is all about dancing fireworks.” The Times

An exotic fable of a dashing pirate’s love for a beautiful harem girl, Hong Kong Ballet’s première of Le Corsaire features captive maidens, rich pashas, suspenseful abductions, dramatic rescues and a poisoned rose, culminating in an unexpected shipwreck that’s one of the most breathtaking spectacles in all of ballet! Based on The Corsair by Lord Byron and choreographed by Anna-Marie Holmes, former Artistic Director of Boston Ballet, this exhilarating production is full of adventure, action, comedy, and romance with a famous pas de trois from its colourful cast of characters!

Holmes won an Emmy Award for her staging of Le Corsaire for American Ballet Theatre (ABT) on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)’s ‘Great Performances’. We are also honoured to have our dancers coached by Julio Bocca, Artistic Director of Ballet Nacional Sodre and former Principal Dancer of ABT. Le Corsaire’s showcase of virtuoso ballet techniques, with bravura roles for men, feisty female characters and jubilant group dances, is a standout in classical repertoire. Love worth having is love worth fighting for!

Choreography Anna-Marie Holmes (after Konstantin Sergeyev and Marius Petipa). In a version by Anna-Marie Holmes
Music Adolphe Adam, Cesare Pugni, Leo Delibes, Riccardo Drigo, and Prince Oldenbourg (Re-orchestrated by Kevin Galie)
Libretto Jules-Henri de Saint-Georges and Joseph Mazilier (Based on The Corsair (1814) by Lord Byron)
Guest Coach Julio Bocca
Set & Costume Design Hugo Millán
Live Accompaniment City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong
Conductor Judith Yan

Programme Plus!
24.10.2017
The Preview of Le Corsaire
4.11.2017
Pre-performance Workshop

Title Sponsor

FANCL Proudly Presents The Nutcracker
15-17 & 19-20.12.2017
Fri–Sun & Tue–Wed 7:30pm | Sat & Sun 2:30pm
22-26.12.2017
Fri–Sun 7:30pm | Sat–Tue 2:30pm
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
$1,000 (VIP tickets), $680, $480, $320, $180
14 performances with live accompaniment
Suitable for ages 3 and above

Hong Kong’s ultimate family holiday tradition, The Nutcracker, returns to enthrall audiences once again with the splendor and magic of Clara and Fritz’s grand adventure! Journey into the dollhouse and up the larger-than-life Christmas tree to behold the heroic Nutcracker defeat the evil Rat King and to reunite with the Ballerina, his true love!

Set to Tchaikovsky’s iconic music with live accompaniment by Hong Kong Sinfonietta and grand sets, Terence Kohler's fresh, multi-layered version was created especially for Hong Kong Ballet. The Nutcracker will capture your imagination and transport you to a wondrous world of courageous toy soldiers, captivating dolls, dramatic sword fights and enchanting snowflakes.

Celebrate the festive season with family and friends at a beloved holiday event, and make memories to cherish for years to come!

Choreography Terence Kohler
Music Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Dramaturge Clair Sauran
Set & Costume Design Jordi Roig
Lighting Design David Bofarull
Painters Jordi Castells & Quique Conde
Live Accompaniment Hong Kong Sinfonietta
Conductor Gerry Cornelius

Programme Plus!
5.12.2017
The Preview of The Nutcracker

Title Sponsor

Ballet Classics for Children: Swan Lake
2-4.2.2018
Fri 7:30pm│Sat 2:30pm & 5:00pm│Sun 5:00pm
4 performances with narration in Cantonese
3-4.2.2018
Sat 7:30pm│Sun 12:00nn & 2:30pm
3 performances with narration in English
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
$300, $200
Best for ages 5 and above
Persons under the age of 3 will not be admitted

Join your children as they magically step inside the classic Swan Lake story—admire the beauty and innocence of the White Swan, hold your breath as the Prince mistakenly falls for the Black Swan and beware of the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart! Fun and educational, our popular Ballet Classics for Children: Swan Lake production, curated by Yuri Ng and narrated by Rick Lau, will delight fans of all ages. This one-hour abridged version introduces Swan Lake’s main characters and good vs evil story as well as key ballet concepts.

We anticipate that Ballet Classics for Children: Swan Lake will sell out quickly, so get your tickets as soon as possible!

Artistic Curator Yuri Ng
Narrator/Script Writer Rick Lau
Original Choreography Marius Petipa & Lev Ivanov
Music Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Lighting Design Alice Kwong
Set Design Leocampo Yuen

Wheeldon, Ratmansky and More
1-3.6.2018
Fri 7:30pm | Sat 2:30pm & 7:30pm | Sun 2:30pm
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
$1,000 (VIP Ticket), $680, $480, $280, $140
4 performances
Suitable for ages 6 and above

Wheeldon, Ratmansky and More will feature two of today’s most influential choreographers’ works.

Critically acclaimed Christopher Wheeldon’s jazz-infused Rush will be Hong Kong Ballet’s first Wheeldon ballet. Rush promises an unforgettable experience in music visualized through the complexity of human bodies in motion, displaying a wide range and breadth of skill and artistry. Alexei Ratmansky’s charming one-act ballet Le Carnaval des Animaux (The Carnival of the Animals) bursts with colour, humour and incredible acrobatic performances! Le Carnaval des Animaux features a whimsical menagerie of animals brought to life with leaping, balancing, spinning and clowning to Camille Saint-Saën’s exciting, melodic score.

This eclectic programme will showcase the Company’s seamless blend of vitality, technical precision and grace and offers audiences a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the dynamic dancers.

Rush
Choreography Christopher Wheeldon

Le Carnaval des Animaux
Choreography Alexei Ratmansky

Other programmes to be announced

Programme Plus!
24.5.2018
The Preview of Wheeldon, Ratmansky and More

DOWNLOAD SEASON BROCHURE

DOWNLOAD PRESS PHOTOS

[Click on the photo to download full image]

Photo 1: Dancers (from left): Yang Ruiqi, Gao Ge, Liu Miaomiao, Chen Zhiyao, Dong Ruixue, Zhang Xuening | Photographer: Tim Wong

Hong Kong Ballet Announces 2017/18 Season

Highlights include the premières of Anna-Marie Holmes’ Emmy award-winning Le Corsaire and Christopher Wheeldon’s Rush

DOWNLOAD SEASON BROCHURE

DOWNLOAD PRESS PHOTOS

About Hong Kong Ballet

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Highlights include the premières of Anna-Marie Holmes’ Emmy award-winning
Le Corsaire and Christopher Wheeldon’s Rush