The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2016
Hong Kong Ballet’s Annual Festive Fundraising Event
[Hong Kong – 4 December 2016] For the eighth year running, The Hong Kong Ballet Guild’s annual fundraising event, The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2016, was a roaring success at Island Shangri-La Hotel’s Island Ballroom on Sunday, 4 December 2016. As always, the event was a very memorable occasion providing families with a joyous festive gathering filled with family-friendly entertainment, a delicious meal and the opportunity for the whole family to experience classical ballet. A host of young children, from ages 5 to 16, embraced a special opportunity to participate in a live ballet The Nutcracker performance and to experience first-hand what it takes to be a part of a production.
Over 380 guests gathered together at this year’s festive celebration. Guests included: Co-Chairs of The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2016: Mrs Anne Wang Liu, Mrs Connie Wei Yang, Mrs Liana Yung Yeung; Chairman of the Board of Governors of Hong Kong Ballet Ms Daisy Ho; Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors of Hong Kong Ballet Mrs Mira Yeh; Board of Governors of Hong Kong Ballet: Mrs Janice Chan-Choy, Mrs Leigh Tung Chou, Ms Linda Fung, Mrs Deirdre Fu Tcheng and Mrs Daphne King Yao; Mr & Mrs James and Jane Louey; Ms Esther Ma; Mrs Audry Ai Morrow; Mrs Melissa Ng Wang; Mrs Colleen Yu-Fung; Ms Maya Lin; Mr & Mrs Frantz and Valerie Hotton; Mr Benjamin Aubanton; Ms Heidi Chu; Mr Peter Cheung; Ms Vanessa Lam; Ms Anne Heung; Ms Hoyan Mok; Ms Kayi Cheung; Ms Camille Cheng and many more.
Hong Kong Ballet recognises that its wonderful, committed dancers are its number one asset. For that reason, part of the Benefit proceeds will go directly to the Company’s Dancers’ Sponsorship Fund for the dancers to receive regular physiotherapy sessions, new pointe shoes and artistic exchanges to further their education, experience and training.
Benefit Co-Chair Mrs Anne Wang Liu expressed her gratitude to all of the generous sponsors who made this event possible, “My sincerest thanks go to our Platinum Sponsors: M.A.C. and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts; Gold Sponsors: JEMS LEARNING HOUSE and Perrier-Jouët Champagne, as well as all other sponsors, partners and table patrons.”
The highlight of the event was the children’s performance featuring 41 committee members’ children wearing brand new costumes that were miniature versions of the original ones from The Nutcracker. Benefit Co-Chair Mrs Connie Wei Yang warmly recognised the Hong Kong Ballet staff, “Thank you to everyone who prepared such a magnificent mini performance for us today: Mrs Deirdre Fu Tcheng, a Hong Kong Ballet Guild’s Founding member and the Creative Director of today’s production, as well as the three choreographers who worked together to create the performance: Board of Governors member Ms Linda Fung, Corps de Ballet member Ms Natalie Ogonek and Education & Community Outreach Manager Ms Vency Kwok.”
Co-Chair Mrs Liana Yung Yeung added, “Special thanks goes to Artistic Director Madeleine Onne, Executive Director Paul Tam, Hong Kong Ballet’s dancers and the administrative team. Together you do such a fantastic job ensuring that Hong Kong Ballet’s reputation and technical excellence far exceed its size.”
As 2016/17 will be Madeleine Onne’s eighth and final season with Hong Kong Ballet, Deirdre Fu Tcheng warmly thanked her, “Madeleine joined the Company back in 2009, a few months before the first Benefit, and she has always been supportive of the Ballet Guild. She always gives us invaluable advice and would, whenever her schedule allows, come to watch our children’s rehearsals. She also readily spares her professional dancers to come and dance with the kids and gives them someone to aspire to become like.”
The Benefit featured two key fundraising activities: a silent and a live auction. Three special lots were the highlights of the live auction - a guaranteed place for one child’s participation in Hong Kong Ballet’s 2017/18 season opener Don Quixote, one tailor-made child’s costume from The Nutcracker, Cinderella or The Sleeping Beauty created by the Company’s wardrobe team and a 45-minute private ballet lesson with one of the Company’s dancers. Throughout the afternoon, guests were treated to a festive brunch, a lucky draw and fun and entertaining activities like arts and crafts workshops, an instant photo booth and a special photo opportunity with Santa Claus himself!
The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2016
Platinum Sponsors
M.A.C.
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
Gold Sponsors
JEMS LEARNING HOUSE
Perrier-Jouët Champagne
Silver Sponsor
Spring Learning Limited
Bronze Sponsors
Fung Group (Sonia Rykiel, Kent & Curwen, Petit Bateau, Stride Rite, Monday’s Child)
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Kids’ Gallery
Louis Vuitton
The Peninsula Hotels
Quintessentially
Roger Lee Production Ltd.
St. Regis Lhasa
Benefit Partners
The Aberdeen Marina Club
ActiveKids Ltd.
airplay blow dry bar
Anastassia's Art House
Apple Park LLC
Bo Innovation
BOXFUL
Burberry
Catch Juicery
Charm In Cell
Ms Camille
Cheng
Ms Elaine C
Kwok and Mr Adrian Cheong
Ms Laura Cheung
Christie’s Education
Clé de Peau Beauté
COCHINE
Cosme de Jardin
Dance Union @ Sunny Wong
The Fat Pig by Tom Aikens
FOUR FOX SAKÉ
Galerie Perrotin
George & Oliver Company
Ginbis Co. Ltd.
Gucci Group (Hong Kong) Limited
HelloToby
Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel
IMAGINEX Group (alice + olivia)
Kee Wah Bakery Limited
kikki.K RETAIL (HK) LIMITED
Lucky Fish Photography
Ma Belle Jewellery Co. Ltd.
MAISON HUIT
MISCHA
MONTBLANC
Penhaligon's
The Point – Pizza & Pasta
Polaris
The Pottinger Hong Kong
Printer & Co.
Punch Detox
Repetto
REVIV Hong Kong
Shanghai Tang
Skechers Hong Kong Limited
Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Sun Hung Kai & Co. Limited
Up & Away
Van Cleef & Arpels
VERO Chocolates
XYZ
Special Thanks
Hong Kong Tatler (English Media Partner)
Ms Elaine C Kwok (Auctioneer)
Ms Esther Ma (Emcee)
Prestique Limited (Event PR)
TVB Weekly Live (Chinese Media Partner)
Co-Chairs of The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2016
Mrs Anne Wang Liu, Mrs Connie Wei Yang, Mrs Liana Yung Yeung
Organising Committee
Mrs Ada Wang Cheng, Mrs Leigh Tung Chou, Mrs Lillian Lee Fong, Mrs Sabrina Pang Fung, Mrs Samantha Wong Hon, Mrs Alice Hosie, Ms Elaine C Kwok, Mrs Michele Lai, Mrs Alison Lam, Mrs Jean Fang Lam, Mrs Cathy Lee, Mrs Jennifer Lee, Mrs Peggy Lee, Mrs Jane Louey, Mrs Leanne Lu-Chu, Ms Esther Ma, Mrs Yvonne Cheung Ma, Mrs Emma Sherrard Matthew, Mrs Audry Ai Morrow, Mrs Vikki Tsang Ong, Mrs Ruri Pao, Mrs Tyhoa Kobler Sitabkhan, Mrs Deirdre Fu-Tcheng, Mrs Tamara Varga, Mrs Heidi Yang Ven, Mrs Wendy Chiang Wai, Mrs Melissa Ng Wang, Mrs Katherine Koo Wong, Mrs Daphne King Yao, Mrs Colleen Yu-Fung
DOWNLOAD PRESS PHOTOS
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Photo 1 (from left): Mrs Liana Yung Yeung, Mrs Anne Wang Liu, Mrs Connie Wei Yang, The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2016 Co-Chairs
Photo 2 (from left): Mrs Connie Wei Yang; Mrs Liana Yung Yeung; Ms Daisy Ho, Chairman of Board of Governors of Hong Kong Ballet; Mrs Anne Wang Liu
Photo 3 (from left): Mrs Connie Wei Yang; Mrs Daphne King Yao, Board of Governors Member of Hong Kong Ballet; Mrs Deirdre Fu Tcheng, Board of Governors Member of Hong Kong Ballet; Ms Madeleine Onne, Artistic Director of Hong Kong Ballet; Mrs Mira Yeh, Vice-Chairman of Board of Governors of Hong Kong Ballet; Ms Daisy Ho; Mrs Anne Wang Liu; Mrs Leigh Tung Chou, Board of Governors Member of Hong Kong Ballet; Ms Linda Fung, Board of Governors Member of Hong Kong Ballet; Mrs Liana Yung Yeung; Mr Paul Tam, Executive Director of Hong Kong Ballet
Photo 4 (from top left): The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2016 Organising Committee: Mrs Jennifer Lee, Mrs Colleen Yu-Fung, Mrs Vikki Tsang Ong, Mrs Samantha Wong Hon, Ms Elaine C Kwok, Mrs Jean Fang Lam, Mrs Lillian Lee Fong, Mrs Tamara Varga, Mrs Daphne King Yao, Mrs Connie Wei Yang, Mrs Liana Yung Yeung, Mrs Anne Wang Liu, Mrs Leigh Tung Chou, Mrs Emma Sherrard Matthew, Mrs Heidi Yang Ven, Mrs Audry Ai Morrow, Mrs Ada Wang Cheng; (from bottom left) Mrs Tyhoa Kobler Sitabkhan, Mrs Jane Louey, Mrs Alison Lam, Mrs Wendy Chiang Wai, Mrs Yvonne Cheung Ma, Mrs Deirdre Fu Tcheng, Mrs Katherine Koo Wong, Mrs Sabrina Pang Fung, Ms Esther Ma, Mrs Leanne Lu-Chu, Mrs Ruri Pao
Photo 5 (from left): Mrs Janice Chan-Choy, Mrs Liana Yung Yeung, Mrs Anne Wang Liu, Mrs Mira Yeh, Ms Madeleine Onne, Mrs Deirdre Fu Tcheng, Ms Linda Fung, Mrs Leigh Tung Chou, Mrs Daphne King Yao, Mrs Connie Wei Yang
Photo 6: Mrs Janice Chan-Choy
Photo 7 (from left): Mrs Caroline Aubanton; Mr Benjamin Aubanton, Regional Marketing and Communication Director of Jaeger-LeCoultre
Photo 8 (from left): Ms Vanessa Lam, Mrs Mira Yeh
Photo 9 (from left): Mr James Louey, Mrs Jane Louey
Photo 10: Ms Anne Heung
Photo 11: Ms Hoyan Mok
Photo 12: Ms Heidi Chu
Photo 13: Ms Kayi Cheung
Photo 14: Ms Winnie Chan
Photo 15: Ms Charmaine Ho
Photo 16: Ms Camille Cheng
Photo 17: Ms Esther Ma
Photo 18 (from left): Mrs Tamara Varga, Mrs Audry Ai Morrow
Photo 19 (from left): Mrs Valerie Hotton; Mrs Anne Wang Liu; Mr Frantz Hotton, Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Hong Kong & Macau
About The Hong Kong Ballet Guild
The Hong Kong Ballet Guild was established in April 2008 by a group of Hong Kong’s most avid ballet enthusiasts. The objectives of the Guild are to promote Hong Kong Ballet, raise its public profile, and preserve its heritage. By increasing awareness of and support for ballet among diverse sectors of society through extensive community engagement programmes, the Guild hopes to achieve its dual objects of developing a wider audience for Hong Kong Ballet, and fostering a society that appreciates this art form, thus enabling Hong Kong to flourish as a global cultural hub.
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 Madeleine Onne, is committed to providing captivating experiences that delight and inspire audiences from all walks of life, both at home and abroad.
For further information, please contact:
Ali Hui
Prestique Limited
M: 6430 0215
[email protected]
Nick Chan
Director of Marketing, Hong Kong Ballet
T: 2105 9716
M: 9728 1777
[email protected]
