Hong Kong Ballet’s Le Corsaire Wins Big at
the 20th Hong Kong Dance Awards
[Hong Kong – 26 Apr 2018] On 20 April, Hong Kong Ballet accepted four awards at the 20th Hong Kong Dance Awards for its rollicking pirate adventure Le Corsaire: “Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer - Xia Jun”, “Outstanding Large Venue Production”, “Outstanding Ensemble Performance”, and “Outstanding Set and Costume Design - Hugo Millán”.
Staged for the Company by Anna-Marie Holmes, Le Corsaire débuted in Hong Kong in November 2017 to enthusiastic acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Fast-paced and visually stunning, Le Corsaire was a notable achievement for the entire company and a milestone in its artistic maturity. Hong Kong Ballet’s dancers showed an impressive mastery of the full range of ballet styles and techniques, from the thrilling exuberance of the pirate dances to the corps de ballet’s perfect symmetry in the Jardin Animé. The complex variations of the Three Odalisques saw the soloists in all four casts producing convincing character portrayals as well as superb dancing.
The Company proudly congratulates Xia Jun on winning “Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer” for his role as Lankendem. Xia brought the shameless character to irresistible life, reveling in his greed, duplicity and cowardice to fine comic effect. His dancing in the famous pas d’esclave duet was an electrifying display of virtuosity – breathtaking jumps with gloriously deep, soft landings, catlike fluidity, and dazzling turns – matched by excellent partnering.
Uruguay designer Hugo Millián’s vibrant designs conjured up a gorgeous Arabian Nights fantasy with an array of colourful costumes, from tutus to turbans, and lavish sets that perfectly expressed each scene’s mood – the opulence of the Pasha’s harem with its living garden of girls and the starry skies of Conrad and Medora’s romantic idyll, culminating in a dramatic full-scale shipwreck!
Special thanks go to all the Hong Kong Ballet dancers for their steadfast dedication to the art of ballet, to the incredible artistic and creative teams who work tirelessly behind the scenes and to our loyal audiences for their continuous support. The Company remains dedicated to creating more inspiring productions for years to come.
Le Corsaire will run again at Tuen Mun Town Hall during 29-31 March 2019. Don’t miss it if you haven’t yet seen this award-winning production! Hong Kong Ballet’s 2018/19 Season productions will be announced in early May.
Xia Jun, Coryphée of Hong Kong Ballet
Born in Shanghai, China, Xia Jun graduated from the Shanghai Dance School in 2012 and was awarded a full scholarship to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet the same year. He joined American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in New York in 2012 and Hong Kong Ballet as a member of the Corps de Ballet in 2013. He was named Coryphée in 2016.
With Hong Kong Ballet, Xia has danced featured roles including Fritz and Italian Doll in Terence Kohler’s The Nutcracker, Mercutio in Rudi van Dantzig’s Romeo and Juliet, Jewels in Cynthia Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty, Gustave in Val Caniparoli's Lady of the Camellias, Executed Prince in Natalie Weir’s Turandot and Cockerel in Alexei Ratmansky’s Le Carnaval des Animaux. He has also performed in John Meehan's Swan Lake, Ronald Hynd's Coppélia, Pär Isberg's Pinocchio, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Jiří Kylián's Petite Mort and Sechs Tänze, Nacho Duato's Castrati, Jorma Elo’s Shape of Glow, Krzysztof Pastor’s In Light and Shadow, Fei Bo’s Shenren Chang and Edwaard Liang’s Sacred Thread.
Xia was a finalist at the prestigious Prix de Lausanne competition in Switzerland in 2012 and won third place at the Taoli Cup Dance Competition the same year. He won “Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer” for his role as Lankendem in Le Corsaire at the Hong Kong Dance Awards in 2018.
Hugo Millián, Set and Costume Design of Le Corsaire
Hugo Millán is an award-winning costume and set designer based in Uruguay whose work can be seen worldwide for theatre, music, opera and ballet. Graduated from Escuela Municipal de Arte Dramático ‘Margarita Xirgú’ – EMAD, Millán is also trained in graphic design, illustration and figurine making. With Uruguay’s Ballet National Sodre – BNS, under the Artistic Direction of Julio Bocca, Millán has designed sets and costumes for numerous productions, with the highlights being Swan Lake (2013), Le Corsaire and Don Quixote (2014), Giselle (2015), Paquita Grand Pas (2016), Theme and Variations (2017) and Sleeping Beauty, premiering in 2018. His work can also be seen in productions by National Theatre of Uruguay.
Since 2004, Millán has taught Theatrical Design at Escuela Municipal de Arte Dramático ‘Margarita Xirgu’ – EMAD and Fashion Design at ORT University of Uruguay. From 1990 – 2007, he taught Design and Creativity, Pattern and Accessories at Centro de Diseno Industrial del Uruguay.
About Hong Kong Dance Awards
The Hong Kong Dance Awards were established in 1999 by the Hong Kong Dance Alliance to acknowledge outstanding achievements in Hong Kong dance industry and raise public awareness of the diversity and excellence of local dance scene. Awards are presented to recipients annually at a Gala Performance and Award Presentation Ceremony.
DOWNLOAD PRESS PHOTOS
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Photo 1 (From left): Leonardo Scarone, Visual Design for Le Corsaire; Hugo Millán, Set & Costume Design for Le Corsaire; Xia Jun, Coryphée of Hong Kong Ballet; Septime Webre, Artistic Director of Hong Kong Ballet; Tang Min, Ballet Mistress of Hong Kong Ballet | Photographer: Ka Lam
Photo 2 (from left): Tang Min, Natasha Rogai, Septime Webre | Photographer: Ka Lam
Photo 3 (from left): Yuri Ng, Tang Min, Septime Webre | Photographer: Ka Lam
Photo 4: Xia Jun | Photographer: Ka Lam
Photo 5: Hugo Millián | Photographer: Ka Lam
Photo 6: Le Corsaire | Dancer: Xia Jun | Photographer: Conrad Dy-Liacc
Photo 7: Le Corsaire | Dancers (from left): Hu Song Wei Ricky, Ye Feifei | Photographer: Conrad Dy-Liacco
Photo 8: Le Corsaire | Hong Kong Ballet Dancers | Photographer: Conrad Dy-Liacco
Photo 9: Le Corsaire | 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, led by Artistic Director Septime Webre, is committed to providing captivating experiences that delight and inspire audiences from all walks of life, both at home and abroad.
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Nick Chan
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M: 9728 1777
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