Les Sylphides and More:
A Dazzling Showcase of 5 Captivating Ballets
Hong Kong – 7th April 2014 – Whether you are new to the world of classical ballet or a confirmed aficionado, The Hong Kong Ballet’s mixed bill will have you coming back for more. The show is something of a gala, showcasing five different ballets ranging from 19th and 20th century classics and romantic contemporary pieces to more avant-garde modern works.
The programme offers something for everyone; Fokine’s 1909 epitome of classical ballet Les Sylphides; duets from two gorgeous ethereal pieces created in 2012 and 2013, Christopher Wheeldon’s Five Movements, Three Repeats and Edwaard Liang’s Finding Light; the pas de deux from Petipa’s celebrated 1899 ballet Le Corsaire; and finally the world première of Shape of Glow, created especially for The Hong Kong Ballet by world-renowned choreographer Jorma Elo.
As well as The Hong Kong Ballet’s own dancers, four guest dancers will grace the stage. The Hong Kong Ballet’s Guest Principal Dancer, Tan Yuan Yuan will perform two dream-like contemporary duets for the Hong Kong audience with her fellow San Francisco Ballet Principal Dancer Damian Smith, and the Company will also be welcoming two dancers from the Royal Swedish Ballet – Chinese-born Adilijiang Abudureheman and his partner American ballerina Jordan-Elizabeth Long.
Les Sylphides – Michel Fokine
Not to be confused with the full-length ballet La Sylphide, Michel Fokine’s 1909 masterpiece Les Sylphides is a "romantic reverie", a one-act ballet with no plot but plenty of atmosphere. The ballet takes place in a woodland glade where the young man, a poet, encounters a group of ethereal, beautiful white sylphs dancing in the moonlight. The dreamy dancing of the spirits represents the poet’s thoughts and inspirations as he composes his works.
The enchantment of this whimsical ballet is enhanced by the gorgeous long tutus, hallmark of many early 20th century classics. The ballet will be danced to a live performance of Chopiniana by Chopin; 9-year-old musical prodigy Daniel Chan will take turns with The Hong Kong Ballet’s own pianist Nicholas Lau, playing the grand piano on stage alongside the ballerinas.
Pas de deux from Le Corsaire – Marius Petipa and Vakhtang Chabukiani
Le Corsaire is a classic Russian ballet that was created by Marius Petipa in 1899. This version of the pas de deux from Act II, which was developed by Vakhtang Chabukiani in the 1930s, made a legend of Rudolf Nureyev when he first performed in England with Dame Margot Fonteyn in 1962. It is one of the most widely performed and well-loved duets for good reason; it offers exoticism, emotion and show-stopping dance, with sky-high leaps and dizzying pirouettes.
At this point in the ballet, Conrad the pirate has rescued Medora the Greek slave girl from sale to a Pasha's harem and taken her to his underground grotto; where, having fallen in love with her, they dance this pas de deux in celebration of her rescue.
Pas de deux from Five Movements, Three Repeats – Christopher Wheeldon
Christopher Wheeldon, one of the most sought-after choreographers of our time, created Five Movements, Three Repeats in 2012 as a piece for four dancers. Set to evocative, Bach-like music by composer Max Richter, this striking ballet plays with intricate shapes, forms and movements that return as echoes of themselves. Wheeldon is renowned for constantly seeking to stretch and extend his own dance vocabulary, and as a result, that of his dancers.
Pas de deux from Finding Light – Edwaard Liang
Edwaard Liang’s short piece Finding Light (2013) is perhaps the perfect ballet to celebrate Tan Yuan Yuan and Damian Smith’s longstanding partnership. This sensual duet highlights the contrasts that have made the dancers’ relationship so affecting; is at once gentle and strong, flexible and unyielding, ethereal and earthly.
Shape of Glow (World Première) – Jorma Elo
Musicality is the key to unlocking the secrets of Shape of Glow. Set to three pieces by Mozart and Beethoven, Shape of Glow is a study of the structure of the music. Its energy resides in the score; Elo uses the dancers’ bodies to explore the mood and texture of the Mozart and Beethoven orchestrations, and the steps speak of the emotions sparked within Elo by the music as he created the ballet. Joyful and celebratory, this majestic piece was created especially for The Hong Kong Ballet.
Artistic Director of The Hong Kong Ballet, Madeleine Onne said “This mixed bill offers a very versatile programme, with crowd-pleasing classics as well as some newer pieces to show the audience the very latest dance aesthetics employed by choreographers around the world today. I hope that the classics will provide a great introduction to ballet for new audience members, while the newer pieces will give confirmed ballet fans some food for thought.”
Les Sylphides and More – event and booking details
23-24.5.2014 – 7:30PM
24-25.5.2014 – 2:30PM
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
4 performances
Programme Duration: approximately 1 hour and 47 minutes, including 2 intermissions.
Suitable for ages 6 and above
Prices: $140, $280, $480, $680
$1000 (Limited availability VIP tickets)
Tickets now available at URBTIX
| Discounts | |
|---|---|
| 50% off | Full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities (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.) |
| 15% off | Friends of The Hong Kong Ballet |
| 10% off (First two tickets) |
CY Buddies, Zuni's Friends, CCDC Dance Generation Premium members, HKPO Club Bravo members, Friends of HKCO and Friends of HKDC |
| 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 $1000 VIP tickets
Ticketing Enquiries: 3761 6661
Credit Card Booking: 2111 5999
Internet Booking: www.urbtix.hk
Programme Enquiries: 2105 9724
Get to know Les Sylphides and More
13.5.2014 | Tue | 7:30PM - 8:45PM
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
What unique qualities brought classical ballet Les Sylphides all the way from its 1909 Paris première to Hong Kong in 2014? And what inspired Jorma Elo as he created Shape of Glow for The Hong Kong Ballet? These questions and more will be answered at this talk. Come along and learn about the five distinct pieces that will be featured in this mixed bill production. You will also have an opportunity to watch The Hong Kong Ballet dancers performing excerpts of Les Sylphides and More in the Studio Theatre.
Free admission. Conducted in English. Suitable for ages 6 and above.
Limited capacity, advanced registration required.
Registration & Enquiries 2105 9724 / [email protected]
Pre-performance Talk
23.5.2014 | Fri | 6:50PM
Level 2 Foyer, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Before you take your seats for the show, head to the foyer outside the Grand Theatre for a brief insight into Les Sylphides and More. There will be a quick overview of the performance’s line-up, from the romantic and classical ballet Les Sylphides to the edgy and contemporary Shape of Glow. The talk will touch on the music and choreographic inspirations of the five pieces in the production, each of which is very different from the next.
The programme is about 20 minutes long. Free admission with Les Sylphides and More tickets.
Conducted in English with Cantonese translation.
About The Hong Kong Ballet
One of the premier classical ballet companies in Asia, The Hong Kong Ballet is becoming internationally recognised as a world-class institution that represents Hong Kong’s unique character. November 2013 marked the 35th anniversary of The Hong Kong Ballet, a Company that has evolved into a vibrant performing arts organisation with accomplished dancers, a strong repertoire, and sparkling, technically challenging productions.
The Company’s artistic team is led by Artistic Director Madeleine Onne, with over 40 dancers originating from all over the world. The Company performs a repertoire that combines classical masterpieces and acclaimed contemporary works from the 19th to 21st centuries, as well as new commissions.
Since 1997, The Hong Kong Ballet has continued to raise its international profile with more than 30 tours. An integral part of the Company’s activities is its extensive education and community outreach programme, which brings the art of ballet to students as well as to the wider community of Hong Kong.
For enquiries, please contact:
Tony Leung
Marketing & PR Manager
The Hong Kong Ballet
Tel: +852 2105 9716
[email protected]
DOWNLOAD PRESS PHOTOS
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Les Sylphides and
More Promotional Image
Dancer: Dong Ruixue
Photography: Chi Wai & Keith Hiro
Les Sylphides
Dancer: Liu Yu-yao
Photography: Chi Wai & Keith Hiro
Michel Fokine, choreographer of Les Sylphides
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Edwaard Liang, choreographer of Finding Light
Photographer: Chiun-Kai Shih
Christopher Wheeldon, choreographer of Five Movements, Three Repeats
Photographer: Rosalie O'ConnorMarius Petipa
Marius Petipa, choreographer of Le Corsaire
Jorma Elo, choreographer of Shape of Glow
Photographer: Eric Antoniou
Adilijiang Abudureheman, Soloist of the Royal Swedish Ballet
Photographer: Carl Thorborg
Tan Yuan Yuan, 
Guest Principal Dancer of Hong Kong Ballet
Principal Dancer of San Francisco Ballet
Photographer: Chris Hardy
Damian Smith, Principal Dancer of San Francisco Ballet
Photographer: Chris Hardy
Jordan-Elizabeth Long, Soloist of the Royal Swedish Ballet
Photographer: Carl Thorborg
Tan Yuan Yuan and Damian Smith in Finding Light
Photographer: Erik Tomasson
Daniel Chan, pianist for Les Sylphides
