Hong Kong Ballet Opens 2017/18 Season with Don Quixote
A must-see comedic ballet for the entire family
[Hong Kong – 30 June 2017] Full of action, drama, humour, gallantry and lots and lots of dancing, Don Quixote will open Hong Kong Ballet’s exciting 2017/18 Season on 25 August 2017 with China Everbright Ltd. as its title sponsor. This exuberant comedic ballet, which the Company originally premièred in 2014, has enthralled Hong Kong audiences with rip-roaring fun and has been praised for “a fast-paced feast of non-stop dancing, as entertaining for family audiences as it is satisfying to ballet lovers” by South China Morning Post. The Company also won Outstanding Ensemble Performance at the 17th Hong Kong Dance Awards for this production. Don Quixote will be Hong Kong Ballet’s first production under its new Artistic Director Septime Webre.
Based on Petipa/Gorsky’s choreography with Nina Ananiashvili’s staging and additional choreography, Don Quixote features renowned guest ballerina Iana Salenko (Principal Dancer of Staatsballett Berlin and Guest Principal of The Royal Ballet), who is one of today’s most exciting Kitris and will be dancing two performances with our own very special Principal Dancer Shen Jie.
Bursting with balletic fireworks and bravura steps, this ballet 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.
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.
Critical acclaim
"Nobody knows Don Quixote better than Ananiashvili, one of the all-time great Kitris and Fadeechev, who has staged it before, notably at the Bolshoi. This production is admirably tailored to fit the Hong Kong Ballet’s resources and local audience tastes without sacrificing authenticity." Dancing Times
“A fast-paced feast of non-stop dancing, as entertaining for family audiences as it is satisfying to ballet lovers” South China Morning Post.
“The ballet was visually dynamic…a satisfying combination of technique and choreography…Don Quixote is definitely a fun-filled family affair.” HKELD
“The dancers are so good that there’s pleasure to be had in simply watching them move.” Times Union
“Subtle, powerful, eclectic” MassLive
About Don Quixote
Set at a time when the power of the once-mighty Spanish Empire was in decline, the eponymous hero Don Quixote, who misguidedly imagines himself a chivalrous and honourable knight, sets off in search of Dulcinea, the fictional maiden with whom he has fallen in love. On his adventures he meets the beautiful Kitri and mistakes her for his beloved Dulcinea. This fun and feisty tale tells of Kitri and her sweetheart Basilio, and their encounters with the comically delusional Don Quixote and his simple squire Sancho Panza.
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
Guest Artist: Iana Salenko
About Iana Salenko
Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Iana Salenko was the youngest dancer at 16 playing principal roles at Donetsk Ballet in 1999. In 2001, she became Principal Dancer at Kiev Ballet and then Principal Dancer at Staatsballett Berlin in 2007. Her repertoire with Staatsballett Berlin includes Vladimir Malakhov’s Cinderella and The Sleeping Beauty, Nacho Duato's The Sleeping Beauty, Patrice Bart’s The Nutcracker, John Cranko’s Onegin and Romeo and Juliet, George Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux and Peter Schaufuss’ La Sylphide. Salenko is currently Guest Principal of The Royal Ballet where she debuted as Kitri in Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote in 2013 and performed in Balanchine’s Diamond in 2017.
Salenko won the gold medal and the Diaghilev Award at the 2002 Serge Lifar International Ballet Competition. In 2004, she won the gold medal at ÖTR Contest Vienna, the gold medal and the Natalia Makarova Award at ARABESQUE Ballet Competition and third prize at Varna International Ballet Competition. The following year, she was awarded gold medals at the International Ballet Competitions in Helsinki and Nagoya. She won accolades in the Dance Open International Dance Festival in 2012, 2014 and 2016. Italian magazine Danza&Danza named Salenka "Best Female Dancer of the Year” in 2016.
Salenko regularly performs as a guest artist around the world, with engagements in Florence, Munich, Moscow, St Petersburg, Rome, Essen, Bratislava, Slovenia and many more.
Performance Details
25-27.8.2017
Fri 7:30pm | Sat & Sun 2:30pm & 7:30pm
5 performances
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
$1,000 (Limited VIP Tickets)
$680 $480 $280 $140 | * $340 $240 $140 $70
* Available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above and people with disabilities
Guest Appearance
Iana Salenko (Principal Dancer of Staatsballett Berlin and Guest Principal of The Royal Ballet)
26 & 27.8.2017 7:30pm
Tickets available at URBTIX now
Ticketing Enquiries: 3761 6661
Credit Card Booking: 2111 5999
Internet Booking: www.urbtix.hk
Programme Enquiries: 2105 9724
Suitable for ages 3 and above
The presenter reserves the right to alter the programme and artists
The performance lasts approximately 2 hours, including an intermission
Discounts
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50% off |
Full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and the minder (Limited tickets for students and senior citizens available on a first-come, first-served basis. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts.) |
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15% off |
Friends of Hong Kong Ballet |
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10% off (First two tickets) |
CCDC Dance Inspirations card holders, Members of Chung Ying Theatre’s Energy Fun Club Plus, Friends of HKCO, Friends of HKDC Prestige Members, HK Phil Club Bravo members, Members of HKRep Pals, Zuni’s Friends, Fringe Club Members, Hong Kong Dance Alliance members, Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association members and HKBU Foundation members |
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Group Booking |
10% off for every purchase of 10-19 tickets at regular price, 15% off for 20-40 tickets |
Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discounts for each purchase.
Discounts are not applicable to $1,000 VIP tickets.
$1,000 VIP Ticket Holders Special Privilege
Present your ticket stub to Hong Kong Ballet’s reception counter (Level 2 Foyer, Hong Kong Cultural Centre) before the performance or during the intermission to receive a coupon for a free drink. Each ticket stub is valid for one free drink only.
Programme Plus!
The Preview of Don Quixote
With an incredible history spanning 400 years from when Cervante’s iconic novel was first written in 1605, Don Quixote not only tells a story of a quest for true love but is also filled with daring, illusion and adventure in the colourful streets of Spain. Come and learn more about chivalry and knighthood in this classical ballet staged by world famous prima ballerina Nina Ananiashvili! Participants will enjoy an up-close viewing of the whimsical costumes and experience exclusive excerpts from the production by Hong Kong Ballet dancers.
Date: 15.8.2017 (Tuesday)
Time: 7:30pm – 8:45pm
Venue: Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Free admission
Conducted in English
Suitable for ages 6 and above
Limited capacity, advance registration required
Registration Details: hkballet.com/preview
Pre-performance Talks
Get a sneak peek into Don Quixote’s rich background before the curtain goes up! Join us for a short talk where you will hear more about the production’s glamorous sets and costumes and also learn some interesting facts that will help you further appreciate this glorious dance spectacle and its lively cast!
26.8.2017
Sat 1:50pm - 2:10pm [Conducted in Cantonese]
Sat 6:50pm - 7:10pm [Conducted in English]
Level 2 Foyer, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
The programme is approximately 20 minutes long
Free admission with Don Quixote tickets
Pre-performance Workshops
Designed for children ages 6-12, this fun, interactive workshop uses dramatic storytelling to explore the characters in the iconic novel Don Quixote. Don't miss this chance to experience the show's lively music, and get up close and personal with the stunning medieval ballet costumes from the actual production. Students will express their creativity by role playing Don Quixote characters while also learning some of the impressive bravura steps from this classical ballet! No previous dance experience is necessary.
26.8.2017
Sat 10:00 – 11:00am & 11:30am – 12:30pm
GR3, 8/F, Grand Theatre Backstage, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Fee: $80 each* | Quota: 40
*10% discount for Friends of Hong Kong Ballet
Conducted in Cantonese and English
Only for Don Quixote ticket holders or Friends of Hong Kong Ballet
Advance registration required
Registration Details: hkballet.com/workshop
| Title Sponsor |
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| Champagne Partner | Make-Up Partner |
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DOWNLOAD PRESS PHOTOS
[Click on the photo to download full image]
Photo 1: Don Quixote promotional image | Dancers: Jin Yao, Wei Wei | Photographer: Ricky Lo
Photo 2: Don Quixote promotional image | Dancers: Jin Yao, Wei Wei | Photographer: Ricky Lo
Photo 3: Iana Salenko, Principal Dancer of Staatsballett Berlin and Guest Principal of The Royal Ballet | Photographer: Enrico Nawrath
Photo 4: Satanella Variation | Dancer: Iana Salenko | Photographer: Carlos Quezada
Photo 5: Don Quixote | Li Lin and Hong Kong Ballet Dancers | Photographer: Conrad Dy-Liacco
Photo 6: Don Quixote | Gao Ge and Hong Kong Ballet Dancers | Photographer: Conrad Dy-Liacco
Photo 7: Don Quixote | Hong Kong Ballet Dancers | Photographer: Conrad Dy-Liacco
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 is committed to providing captivating experiences that delight and inspire audiences from all walks of life, both at home and abroad. Mr Septime Webre, former Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet, will join the Company as its new Artistic Director starting in July.
For further information, please contact:
Nick Chan
Director of Marketing
T: 2105 9716
M: 9728 1777
[email protected]
