[Hong Kong - 29 May 2008] The Hong Kong Ballet, one of the leading ballet companies in the region, announces a series of audience building plans, a vital component of the venue partnership scheme of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The Hong Kong Ballet will make full use of its weeks in the Cultural Centre Studio Theatre by presenting a series of lecture-demonstrations to introduce each major production in the season, the first of which is on 3 June, introducing the Le French May programme, Tricolor.

The lecture-demonstration series is a multi-media, interactive experience. Devised by the Artistic Director John Meehan, they aim to give the public a chance to learn about the art and development of ballet, understand the working process of each production, meet face-to-face the world-class répétiteurs, choreographers and designers working with The Hong Kong Ballet on each production, and being up close and personal with the Company dancers, who will perform highlights from the repertoire and share their insights on their interpretation of each work.

"We want to be innovative in how we reach out to the community," said John Meehan, Artistic Director of The Hong Kong Ballet. "I want to let them meet me and my dancers in an informal setting. I want to transform their perception of ballet and spark off their interest in this art form."

For the Tricolor lecture-demonstration on 3 June, John Meehan will talk about the history of the 'mixed bill' production from Diaghilev to this day, with the help of precious footages from historical archives. He will also be in conversation with the répétiteurs of Rubies, Sandra Jennings, and Jardin aux Lilas, Donald Mahler, former dancers who have worked with choreographers George Balanchine and Antony Tudor, giants of the ballet world who have transformed ballet from classical to a contemporary and living art form. The series is free of charge and open to the public. For registration, call 2105 9724 or email emarketing@hkballet.com.

Prior to the opening performance on 13 June, a pre-performance talk will be held in the Grand Theatre at 6:45pm, for ticket-holders of Tricolor.

Tricolor, a programme of Le French May, will be performed at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre from 13 to 15 June 2008 (2:30pm on Sat and Sun / 7:30pm on Fri, Sat & Sun). Prices range from HK$1000 for VIP tickets to $150. Tickets are now available at all URBTIX outlets (Tel. 2734 9009 / www.urbtix.hk).

About Hong Kong Ballet

The Hong Kong Ballet is recognized as one of the leading ballet companies in Asia, and constitutes the sole professional ballet company in Hong Kong. Led by Artistic Director John Meehan, the Company's 43 dancers participate in more than 40 performances every year of full-length and mixed repertory ballets to an estimated audience of over 45,000. Since its founding in 1979, the Hong Kong Ballet has emerged as an effective international ambassador for Hong Kong, making more than 17 international tours to 10 countries since 1997. The Company's repertoire ranges from the great full-length ballets of the 19th Century, such as Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Giselle, to some of the best classical works of the 20th Century, including Balanchine's Theme and Variations and Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Rudi van Dantzig's Romeo and Juliet and Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow. The repertoire also includes acclaimed contemporary masterpieces such as Stephen Mill's Hush and Stanton Welch's Clear. The Company regularly conducts active educational and community outreach programmes to an annual audience of 20,000.

For press contacts,
Heidi Chik
PR and Marketing Manager
Hong Kong Ballet
Tel. 2105 9742
heidi_chik@hkballet.com