The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2017
Another Successful Festive Fundraiser for Hong Kong Ballet
[Hong Kong – 11 December 2017] On Sunday 10 December 2017, The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2017 hosted over 360 guests at the Island Ballroom of Island Shangri-La Hotel. A beloved yearly tradition and The Hong Kong Ballet Guild’s ninth annual holiday fundraising event, this festive afternoon was a memorable, joyful occasion for families as they enjoyed incredible entertainment, a delicious meal and fun Christmas-themed activities for all ages. As always, the Benefit’s highlight was a sparkling Nutcracker ballet performance by a group of children ages 2-13. This was a unique opportunity for families to experience classical ballet together.
Notable guests included Mrs Connie Wei Yang and Mrs Liana Yung Yeung, Co-Chairs of The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2017; Ms Daisy Ho, Chairman of Board of Governors of Hong Kong Ballet; Members of Board of Governors of Hong Kong Ballet: Mrs Janice Chan-Choy, Mrs Leigh Tung Chou, Ms Linda Fung and Mrs Deirdre Fu Tcheng; Orgainsing Committee Members of The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2017: Ms Daphne King Yao, Mrs Heidi Chu Lam, Mr & Mrs James and Jane Louey, Mrs Audry Ai Morrow and Mrs Colleen Yu Fung. Other guests include Ms Sofie Rahman, Mrs Bonnie Kwong Li, Mr Adrian David Li, Mrs Alison El Azar, Ms Claudine Ying, Mrs Natalie Kwok, Ms Anina Ho and more.
Hong Kong Ballet prioritizes its dedicated, hard-working dancers as its number one asset. Therefore, part of the Benefit proceeds will directly go towards the Company’s Dancers’ Sponsorship Fund in order 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 Connie Wei Yang expressed her gratitude to all of the generous sponsors who made this event possible, “My sincerest thanks go to our Platinum Sponsor Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts; Gold Sponsors: China New Higher Education Group, Li & Fung and Perrier-Jouët Champagne, as well as all other sponsors, partners and table patrons.”
The much-anticipated children’s performance featured 42 of the committee members’ children in bespoke sparkling costumes that were miniature versions of the originals in The Nutcracker. Mrs Connie Wei Yang warmly recognised the creative team, “Thank you to everyone who prepared such a magnificent mini performance for us today: Mr Septime Webre, Artistic Director of Hong Kong Ballet, who took the role of the Artistic Advisor and Choreographer of the performance; Mrs Deirdre Fu Tcheng, Member of Board of Governors and one of The Hong Kong Ballet Guild’s Founders, who served as the Creative Director in collaboration with four other choreographers: Ms Linda Fung, Member of Board of Governors; Lai Pui Ki Peggy, Member of Corps de Ballet; Leung Chunlong, Coryphée and Ms Vency Kwok, Education & Community Outreach Manager.
Co-Chair Mrs Liana Yung Yeung added, “Special thanks goes to Artistic Director Mr Septime Webre, Executive Director Mr Paul Tam, Hong Kong Ballet’s dancers and the administrative team. Together you do such a wonderful job connecting the art of ballet with different audiences and the community at large.”
The Benefit featured two significant fundraising activities: a silent auction and a live auction. Three special lots were the highlights of the live auction – an onstage role for one child in a 2018 Hong Kong Ballet production, a tailor-made child’s costume from The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland or Carnival created by the Company’s wardrobe team and a 45-minute private ballet lesson with a Company dancer. This year, there was also a ‘Make a Pledge’ session where guests could not only sponsor a month’s worth of physiotherapy sessions for the Company’s 48 Dancers but also help bring ballet to the visually impaired and make ballet more accessible for local students.
Throughout the afternoon, guests were treated to a delicious festive brunch, a lucky draw and entertaining activities like arts and crafts workshops, an interactive photo booth and a special photo with Santa Claus himself!
The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2017
Platinum Sponsors
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
Gold Sponsors
China New Higher Education Group
Li & Fung
Perrier-Jouët Champagne
Silver Sponsor
Mr & Mrs Canute Dalmasse
Galerie Perrotin
Megan’s Kitchen
PAKT Limited
Roger Lee Production Ltd.
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Spring Learning Limited
Tea Seventh Investment & Development Company Limited
Bronze Sponsors
airplay blow dry bar
Buccellati Asia Pacific Company Limited
Clé de Peau Beauté
Dermagram (Hong Kong) Company Limited
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Kids’ Gallery
UCAR Inc.
Versace Asia Pacific Limited
Benefit Partners
The Aberdeen Marina Club
ActiveKids Ltd.
Alisan Fine Arts
AMMO
Anastassia’s Art House
Baumhaus Ltd.
Blooms Roastery ~ Craft Tea
Bo Innovation
CÉ LA VI Hong Kong
Ms Elaine C Kwok and Mr Adrian Cheong
Christie’s Education
Classified Group
CosMax Medical Aesthetic Centre
Farrington Interiors Ltd.
THE FLEMING
FOOT Reflexology & Acupressure Limited
HK Headshots
Kader Group
Kelvin Flower Production
La Bombance International Co. Limited
La Prairie Hong Kong Ltd.
M.A.C
Mattel East Asia Ltd.
Maxwin
The Murray, Hong Kong
ONANOFF
Pizza Express
The Point – Pizza & Pasta
Printer & Co.
Repetto
Rosa & Daniel Photography
Sun Hung Kai & Co. Limited
TOD’S Hong Kong Limited
Ms Alice Tong
The Westin Xian
XYZ
Special Thanks
Hong Kong Tatler (English Media Partner)
Ms Elaine C Kwok (Auctioneer)
Prestique Limited (Event PR)
TVB Weekly Live (Chinese Media Partner)
Co-Chairs of The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2017
Mrs Connie Wei Yang, Mrs Liana Yung Yeung
Organising Committee
Ms Jennifer Cheung, Mrs Leigh Tung Chou, Mrs Lillian Lee Fong, Mrs Sabrina Pang Fung, Mrs Colleen Yu Fung, Mrs Samantha Wong Hon, Mrs Alma Hung, Ms Elaine C Kwok, Mrs Michele Lai, Mrs Alison Chan Lam, Mrs Heidi Chu Lam, Mrs Jennifer Lee, Mrs Peggy Yeoh Lee, Mrs Anne Wang Liu, Mrs Jane Louey, Mrs Leanne Lu-Chu, Ms Esther Ma, Mrs Yvonne Cheung Ma, Mrs Paula Mahoney, Mrs Audry Ai Morrow, Mrs Vikki Tsang Ong, Mrs Tyhoa Kobler Sitabkhan, Mrs Deirdre Fu Tcheng, Ms Alice Tong, Mrs Jennifer Chan Tsang, Mrs Tamara Varga, Mrs Heidi Yang Ven, Ms Daphne King Yao
DOWNLOAD PRESS PHOTOS
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Photo 1 (from left): Mrs Liana Yung Yeung, Mrs Connie Wei Yang, Co-Chairs of The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2017
Photo 2: The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2017 Organising Committee (from left): Ms Linda Fung, Mrs Tyhoa Kobler Sitabkhan, Ms Wendy Wing, Mrs Daphne King Yao, Ms Jennifer Cheung, Mrs Heidi Chu Lam, Ms Alice Tong, Mrs Jennifer Chan Tsang, Mrs Samantha Wong Hon, Mrs Lillian Lee Fong, Mrs Connie Wei Yang, Mrs Liana Yung Yeung, Ms Elaine C Kwok, Mrs Alma Hung, Mrs Yvonne Cheung Ma, Mrs Leigh Tung Chou, Mrs Colleen Yu Fung, Mrs Audry Ai Morrow, Mrs Vikki Tsang Ong, Mrs Leanne Lu-Chu, Mrs Alison Chan Lam
Photo 3: The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2017 Organising Committee (front row, from left): Mrs Paula Mahoney, Mrs Heidi Chu Lam, Ms Elaine C Kwok, Mrs Yvonne Cheung Ma, Ms Daisy Ho, Mrs Deirdre Fu Tcheng, Mrs Connie Wei Yang, Mrs Sabrina Pang Fung, Mrs Michele Lai; (back row, from left): Mrs Audry Ai Morrow, Mrs Alison Chan Lam, Mrs Tamara Varga, Mrs Lillian Lee Fong, Ms Alice Tong, Mrs Leigh Tung Chou, Mrs Jennifer Lee, Mrs Jane Louey, Mrs Peggy Yeoh Lee, Mrs Anne Wang Liu, Mrs Liana Yung Yeung, , Mrs Jennifer Chan Tsang, Mrs Colleen Yu Fung, Mrs Heidi Yang Ven, Mrs Vikki Tsang Ong, Mrs Samantha Wong Hon, Mrs Tyhoa Kobler Sitabkhan, Mrs Daphne King Yao
Photo 4 (from left): Mrs Connie Wei Yang; Members of Board of Governors of Hong Kong Ballet: Mrs Daphne King Yao (Ex-member), Mrs Leigh Tung Chou, Mrs Anne Wang Liu; Ms Daisy Ho, Chairman of Board of Governors of Hong Kong Ballet; Mr Septime Webre, Artistic Director of Hong Kong Ballet; Members of Board of Governors of Hong Kong Ballet: Ms Linda Fung, Mrs Deirdre Fu Tcheng, Mrs Janice Chan-Choy (Ex-member); Mrs Liana Yung Yeung
Photo 5: Co-Chairs of The Hong Kong Ballet Guild (from left): Mrs Leigh Tung Chou, Mrs Liana Yung Yeung, Mrs Anne Wang Liu
Photo 6 (from left): Mrs Connie Wei Yang, Ms Daisy Ho, Mrs Deirdre Fu Tcheng, Mrs Liana Yung Yeung
Photo 7 (from left): Mrs Liana Yung Yeung; Ms Daisy Ho; Mr Septime Webre; Mrs Connie Wei Yang; Mr Paul Tam, Executive Director of Hong Kong Ballet
Photo 8 (from Left): Mrs Lily Chen, Mrs Connie Wei Yang, Mrs Millie Lau, Mrs Liana Yung Yeung
Photo 9: Ms Sofie Rahman
Photo 10 (from left): Mrs Liana Yung Yeung, Mrs Bonnie Kwong Li, Mr Adrian David Li, Mrs Connie Wei Yang
Photo11 (from left): Mrs Alison El Azar, Ms Claudine Ying
Photo 12 (from left): Ms Claudine Ying, Mrs Natalie Kwok
Photo 13 (from left): Mrs Colleen Yu Fung, Mrs Lillian Lee Fong
Photo 14: Mrs Heidi Chu Lam, Mr Dickens Lam
Photo 15: Mr Desmond So
Photo 16 (from left): Ms Daisy Ho; Ye Feifei, Principal Dancer of Hong Kong Ballet; Li Jiabo, Principal of Hong Kong Ballet
Photo 17 (from left): Mr Julian Liu, Mrs Anne Wang Liu
Photo 18 (from left): Mr Peter Cheung, Mr Francisco Anton Serrano, Mrs Leigh Tung Chou, Mrs Anne Wang Liu
Photo 19 (from left): Mrs Janice Chan-Choy, Mrs Jane Louey, Ms Victoria Law
Photo 20 (from left): Ms Anina Ho; Ms Ophelia Hui, Luxury and Corporate Relations Manager of Pernod Ricard Hong Kong
Photo 21 (from left): Ms Stephanie Couette; Mrs Valerie Hotton; Mr Frantz Hotton, Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Hong Kong & Macau
Photo 22 (from left): Li Jiabo, Principal Dancer of Hong Kong Ballet; Yuh Egami, Member of Corps de Ballet of Hong Kong Ballet
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 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, joined the Company as its new Artistic Director in July.
For further information, please contact:
Carmen Fu
Prestique Limited
T: 2541 9393
[email protected]
Nick Chan
Director of Marketing, Hong Kong Ballet
T: 2105 9716
M: 9728 1777
[email protected]
