The Hong Kong Ballet’s Celebratory 2014-15 Season
A dazzling line-up celebrating
the Company’s unique characteristics in its 35th year
Hong Kong – 21st August 2014 To mark The Hong Kong Ballet’s 35th anniversary, the Company has announced an exciting line-up for the 2014-15 season. The programme combines classical favourites with more contemporary pieces, and also offers two mixed bills so that the audience can have a chance to try something new. Artistic Director Madeleine Onne explained the thinking behind this anniversary season, “Our dancers are extremely talented, and I always try to plan a line-up that will present new challenges for them, and push them towards ever more expressive artistic interpretation.”
The Company will launch the season this Friday with a flamboyant and colourful classic Don Quixote. This version of the ballet features new choreography and staging by world-famous Georgian ballerina Nina Ananiashvili, who made her name dancing one of the central roles in Don Quixote, that of the passionate and feisty Kitri. Audiences will enjoy live accompaniment of Ludwig Minkus’s lively and varied score by the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong.
October’s gala show, A Celebration of Dance – The Hong Kong Ballet at 35, will demonstrate the abilities of a young company full of talented dancers, hungry for challenges in all fields of dance. George Balanchine’s beautiful neo-classical ballet Serenade with a cast almost exclusively made up of woman will contrast with Castrati, a piece by eminent Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato with a cast of nine men. And finally, The Hong Kong Ballet’s devotion to the legendary classics of the ballet world is expressed through the most exciting act of the world’s favourite ballet Swan Lake. As part of the Company’s ongoing friendly exchange with the Royal Swedish Ballet, it will present the stunning Act III of RSB’s version of Swan Lake, choreographed by Natalia Conus (after Marius Petipa). Shortly after the gala closes, the Company will be heading to the US on tour in early November, for the second time this year, with Natalie Weir’s beautiful interpretation of the opera Turandot.
One of initiatives that holds great importance for The Hong Kong Ballet’s dancers is the choreographic workshop. For most of its 35 year history, The Hong Kong Ballet has held regular choreographic workshops to share the dancers’ own ballet pieces; the dancers relish this opportunity to present their creativity, ideas and accumulated dance experience. Choreographers’ Showcase in November 2014 continues the tradition of highlighting the diverse talents of the members of The Hong Kong Ballet as they celebrate their visions as dance creators.
At Christmas time, The Hong Kong Ballet will welcome the festive season with the classic Yuletide show The Nutcracker, presenting Terence Kohler’s charming version made especially for the Company in 2012. The show is perfect for children – a dazzling feast for the senses that all the family will enjoy. Tickets sell out fast for this ballet, as many families have made it a part of their traditional Christmas celebrations. The ballet will be accompanied live by Hong Kong Sinfonietta, adding to the fabulous theatrical experience.
Natalie Weir’s stunning adaptation of Puccini’s opera Turandot will hit the stage in February 2015. The Australian choreographer has transformed this tale of power, lust and revenge into a visually striking ballet. Accompanied by Puccini’s original music, the dazzling spectacle of Turandot has the power to intrigue and beguile audiences.
As the season draws to a close, the Company’s celebratory finale will be another mixed bill Carnival . Bolero . Paquita. Featuring excerpts of Petipa’s Paquita, as well as a ballet by one of the most popular choreographers of our time, Alexei Ratmansky, and the world première of Bolero to Ravel’s breathtaking music, choreographed by Ricky Hu and Yuh Egami, two of the most promising choreographers currently dancing with The Hong Kong Ballet.
Madeleine Onne summed up the season, explaining “We have an exciting and busy season ahead of us, and I am looking forward to sharing the ballet year together with audiences new and old.”
Don Quixote
22-24, 29-31 August 2014 (8 performances)
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Accompanied by City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong
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A Celebration of Dance – The Hong Kong Ballet at 35
24-26 October 2014 (4 performances)
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
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Choreographers’ Showcase 2014
28-30 November 2014 (3 performances)
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
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The Nutcracker
19-21, 24-28 December 2014 (13 performances)
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Accompanied by Hong Kong Sinfonietta
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Turandot
6-8 February 2015 (5 performances)
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
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Carnival . Bolero . Paquita
29 – 31 May 2015 (4 performances)
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
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About The Hong Kong Ballet
One of the premier classical ballet companies in Asia, The Hong Kong Ballet is becoming internationally recognized as a world-class institution that represents Hong Kong’s unique character. November 2013 marked the 35th anniversary of the Company, which has evolved into a vibrant performing arts organization with accomplished dancers, a strong repertoire and technically challenging productions.
The Hong Kong Ballet’s artistic team is led by Artistic Director Madeleine Onne, with over 40 dancers originating from all over the world. Performing a repertoire that combines classical masterpieces and acclaimed contemporary works, the Company continues to commission works from today’s most sought-after choreographers. Recent commissions include new ballets from choreographers such as Fei Bo, Kinsun Chan, Wang Xin Peng, Peter Quanz, Yuri Ng, Cynthia Harvey, Terence Kohler and Jorma Elo.
Throughout its 35 year history, The Hong Kong Ballet has raised its international profile with more than 30 tours and prestigious accolades. The North America Tour in the summer of 2012 incorporated the company’s debut appearance at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival which was followed by an invitation to perform at the renowned Fall for Dance festival held annually in New York. In September 2013, The Hong Kong Ballet presented its production of Swan Lake at the Guangzhou Opera House, as part of the Guangzhou Arts Festival. 2014 is an important year for The Hong Kong Ballet; in March 10 of the dancers performed Nacho Duato’s Castrati at the New National Theater in Tokyo, and in June the Company was invited to perform again at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. In addition, The Hong Kong Ballet received the Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in 2014 for its production of Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow; also in 2014 two of The Hong Kong Ballet’s dancers were nominated for the Prix Benois de la Danse, held annually in Moscow at the Bolshoi Theatre.
An integral part of the Company’s activities is its extensive education and community outreach program, which brings the art of ballet to students as well as to the wider community of Hong Kong. Annual events include Ballet Classics for Children, abridged versions of full-length classical ballets geared towards young audiences. The Hong Kong Ballet’s Education and Community Outreach department’s endeavors were recognized in 2014 with the Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance.
For enquiries, please contact:
Miss Chiu Yee-ling
Assistant Marketing Manager
The Hong Kong Ballet
+852 2105 9757
[email protected]
DOWNLOAD PRESS PHOTOS
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Don Quixote
Dancers: Jin Yao, Wei Wei
Photographer: Almond Chu
Swan Lake
Dancer: Zhang Si Yuan
Photographer: Conrad Dy-Liacco
Choreographers' Showcase
Dancers: Jin Yao, Wei Wei
Photographer: Gordon Wong
The Nutcracker
The Hong Kong Ballet Dancers
Photographer: Conrad Dy-Liacco
Turandot
Dancers: Liu Miao-miaom Li, Jia-bo, Liu Yu-yao
Photographer: Almond Chu
Paquita
The Hong Kong Ballet Dancers
Photographer: Gordon Wong
