Hong Kong Ballet is proud to present a new mixed bill programme Momentum in November as one of the highlights of the Company's 2007-08 Season. The Company is also honoured to have Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited to be the Title Sponsor of this stunning production.
Momentum features three signature one-act ballets that demonstrate the astonishing versatility of ballet - from well loved timeless masterpieces to refreshing, stimulating and bold new work - undeniably something for everyone.
Hong Kong Ballet is also thrilled to welcome international ballet stars, Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet Sofiane Sylve and her partner Tamas Solymosi to perform a classical grand pas de deux in the production to make it an unforgettable celebration of dance.
Paquita (Choreography: Marius Petipa Music: Ludwig Minkus)
Premièred at the Paris Opera in 1846, Paquita was originally a 2-act ballet-pantomime with a Spanish theme. The ballet was exported to St. Petersburg and in 1881, Marius Petipa staged a new version of the ballet in his characteristic style to musical additions contributed by Ludwig Minkus. These additions, including Grand Pas Classique, Children's Polonaise and Mazurka, have become some of the most well-known compositions in ballet.
Paquita is an exquisite example of dazzling classical ballet at its finest - just as you might envisage.
Clear (Choreography: Stanton Welch, Music: Johann Sebastian Bach)
"The choreography is explosive, fiercely danced."
- The New York Times
Stanton Welch, one of the most sought-after choreographers of his generation and currently the Artistic Director of Houston Ballet, created Clear in 2001, shortly after September 11. He said, "It was a time in all of our lives when we centered on what was truly important." Stripping down the process to its bare essentials, Welch created his ballet for seven men and one woman set to Bach's heavenly score.
As a startling contrast to Paquita, Clear is an almost all-male work. Welch's powerful command of movement is emphasised in this piece, giving Hong Kong Ballet's male dancers a perfect platform to demonstrate their dynamism.
Renowned for his sense of basic form, the fabulous fashion designer Michael Kors creates the simple yet chic costumes.
Night Light (Choreography:Eve Chan)
"Eve Chan's pleasing witty There is a Table...showed genuine inventiveness and exuded sexual tension."
- South China Morning Post on Primary Moves
The Hong Kong Ballet's commitment to original new work sees the commission of Eve Chan - dancer and choreographic apprentice of the Hong Kong Ballet. Chan showcases her developing talent in the premier of her new work Night Light, following her previous acclaimed pieces Falling and There is a Table…
Set to music from Arvo Pärt and combined with re-arranged music from The Sleeping Beauty, Chan creates a melancholy and surreal piece exploring the fine line between dreams and the real world. Alive with bizarre characters, absurd scenes and city soundscapes, Night Light unfolds a shadowy sphere questioning, "what is real and what is nightmare?".
Classical Grand pas Deux by Sofiane Sylve and Tamas Solymosi
"...Sofiane Sylve, a powerhouse dancer, gets some highly tempestuous moments..."
- Financial Times
Best known for her exquisite signature pirouette and her spirited athletic style, Sofiane Sylve continues to make a lasting impression on audiences worldwide with her ever expanding repertoire. New York City Ballet's Principal Dancer makes a powerful appearance as our guest in this mixed bill production. Feast your eyes on a magnetic performance as Tamas Solymosi joins her for the stunning classical grand pas de deux.
Tickets available now at all Hong Kong Ticketing Outlets. Rehearsal of Momentum will start in October. Media interview and rehearsal visit are welcome. For enquiries, please call 2105 9722 Ms. Cheung or 2105 9712 Ms. Wong.
Meet Sofiane Sylve & Tamas Solymosi
Autograph session
10.11.2007 - after matinee performance
Meet-the-artist session
10.11.2007 - after evening performance
Programme details
9-11.11.2007 - 8:00pm
10-11.11.2007 - 3:00pm
Lyric Theatre,
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
$800 (VIP), 400, 360, 250, 160
VIP tickets include a souvenir and an interval drink
Tickets available NOW at all HK Ticketing Outlets
Ticket Purchase Hotline:
31 288 288 / www.hkticketing.com
Enquiries: 2105 9724 / marketing@hkballet.com
For age 6 or above
Notes to Editors:
Stanton Welch - Choreographer of Clear
- Artistic Director of Houston Ballet, America's fourth largest classical ballet company.
- One of the most sought after choreographers of his generation, having created works for such prestigious international companies as Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Australian Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Royal Danish Ballet.
- Choreographic career developed during his time with The Australian Ballet. In 1990 he received his first choreographic commission from the company, marking the beginning of a series of commissioned works over the next fourteen years.
- For The Australian Ballet he has created The Three of Us (1990); Of Blessed Memory (1991), for which he was voted best new choreographer in 1992 by readers of the British magazine Dance & Dancers; Divergence(1994); full-length productions of Madame Butterfly (1995) and Cinderella (1997); Red Earth (1996); X (1999); Velocity (2003) and a new Sleeping Beauty (2005).
Eve Chan - Choreographer of Night Light
- Born in Hong Kong. Graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and joined the Hong Kong Ballet in 2001.
- Her first choreographic work Falling for the Company's Celebrate January with Classics and Beyond in 2005 was well praised. She created her second work There is a Table… for the Company's production Primary Moves in January 2007, playing the dual role of choreographer and set designer.
- Now being the Choreographic Apprentice and Coryphée with the Hong Kong Ballet.
Sofiane Sylve - Guest Artist
- Born in Nice, France.
- A guest artist with New York City Ballet during the company's winter 2002-2003 season and joined the company as a Principal Dancer in fall 2003.
- Awarded first prize at the Split Festival in Croatia in 1997 and Alexandra Radius Prize in 1998.
- Danced leading roles in a wide array of repertory including Giselle, The Magic Flute, Romeo and Juliet and The Sleeping Beauty; George Balanchine's Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Theme and Variations, Emeralds from Jewels, Apollo and a number of classical and contemporary works by renowned choreographers.
Tamas Solymosi - Guest Artist
- Born in Budapest, Hungary.
- Danced with Dutch National Ballet, English National Ballet and Vienna State Opera Ballet and has appeared as a guest artist with the Bolshoi Ballet, Berlin State Opera, Finnish National Ballet, the Hungarian National Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, among others.
- Deputy Director with the Hungarian Ballet School from 2005 to 2006 and now the Artistic Director for the summer festival of Szolnok, Hungary.
- Danced lead roles in a number of repertoire including Manon, Mayerling, Onegin, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, The Merry Widow, Le Corsaire and Balanchine ballets Apollo, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Symphony C.
