This March, Hong Kong Ballet will make its long-awaited return to Europe to delight audiences in Spain, Germany and Serbia with an innovative and intercultural mixed bill programme featuring Fei Bo's Shenren Chang, which strives to integrate eastern perspectives into ballet; Edwaard Liang's Sacred Thread, which explores tensions among relationships within marriage; and Jorma Elo's Shape of Glow which brings musicality to life through movement. Commissioned and premiered by Hong Kong Ballet, these three works will receive their overseas premieres on this tour, showcasing for the European audiences the consummate artistry of the dancers and the unique character of the Company.

Performance Details
Mixed Bill
Fei Bo Shenren Chang
Edwaard Liang Sacred Thread
Jorma Elo Shape of Glow

1.    Madrid, Spain
Theatre Auditorium, San Lorenzo de El Escorial
9-10 March 2018 (Fri-Sat) 7:30pm
€ 28.50
Website:
http://www.teatroauditorioescorial.es/espectaculo/hong-kong-ballet/
Programme enquiries: (+34) 918 90 07 07

2.    Bonn, Germany
Theater Bonn
14-15 March 2018 (Wed-Thu) 7:30pm
€ 13.00, € 29.50, € 36.10, € 48.20, € 59.20
Website:
https://shop.derticketservice.de/theaterbonn/eventreihen/?evLId=91538

3.    Neuss, Germany
Big hall, Stadthalle Neuss
17 March 2018 (Sat) 8:00pm
€ 25.10 - € 71.10
Website:

https://www.westticket.de/Hongkong+Ballet-Ticket-3673/?evId=1578889&pageId=3673

4.    Novi Sad, Serbia
Serbian National Theatre
21 March 2018 (Wed) 8:00pm
RSD 800, 1,000, 1,200
Website: 
https://belgradedancefestival.com/balet-hongkonga/

5.    Belgrade, Serbia
Sava Center
23 March 2018 (Fri) 8:00pm
RSD 1,700, 2,000, 2,300
Website:

http://www.savacentar.net/index.php/en/program-kulture/547-bfi-balet-hongkonga?date=2018-03-23-20-00

About Shenren Chang

Inspired by the ancient guqin music Shenren Chang (‘Harmony between Gods and Men’), Fei Bo continues the dialogue between eastern perspectives and western ballet art. This work, through the dancer’s limbs, attempts to capture the rhythm of blood pumping, the movement of air from breathing, and the collision and integration of the five life elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water which signifies the world's primordial essence and fundamental nature. This piece abstractly illustrates the Chinese concepts of yin and yang, five life elements and the spiritual realm of the unity of man and universe.

Choreography: Fei Bo
Music: Wen Zi (Shenren Chang)
Guqin: Na Wu
Zheng: Jing Chang
Vocal: Fu-jia Cao
Cello: Ping Zhang
Clarinet: Yi HeCostume 
Design: Kun LiSet 
Design: Bacchus Lee
Assistant Set Design: Stacy Wing-kwan Ip
Original Lighting Design: Kwok-fai Mak

About Sacred Thread 

Commissioned by Hong Kong Ballet, Edwaard Liang's Sacred Thread draws inspiration from Chinese weddings and touches upon uncertainty, sacrifice and freedom in relationships. Set to John Adam's driving tempo, Liang evokes ambivalence through vivid realism and athletic choreography. The flourishes in the piece reflect intense emotions.

Choreography: Edwaard Liang
Music: John Adams
Costume Design: Bridget Steis
Lighting Design: Mak Kwok Fai

About Shape of Glow
Musicality is the key to unlocking the secrets of Shape of Glow. Set to three pieces of music by Mozart and Beethoven, Shape of Glow is a study of the structure of music. Its energy resides in the score, and Elo uses the dancers’ bodies to explore the mood and texture of Mozart’s and Beethoven’s orchestrations. 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 Hong Kong Ballet.

Choreographer:    Jorma Elo
Music:    Mozart   Symphony No. 28 in C
              Mozart       Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat
              Beethoven       Consecration of the House Overture
Costume Designer:    Yumiko Takeshima
Original Lighting Design: Goh Boon Ann

If you are planning to attend any of these overseas performances, we would love to hear from you.  Please drop us a line at [email protected]