The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2023
Successfully Raises Funds for Hong Kong Ballet

[Hong Kong — 20 December 2023] On Sunday, 17 December 2023, Hong Kong Ballet’s signature fundraiser The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2023 was held at Hong Kong Cultural Centre’s Grand Theatre. Organised by the Hong Kong Ballet Guild, the Benefit’s highlight was a delightful live excerpt of Septime Webre’s festive The Nutcracker by 35 of the organising committee members’ children ages 3-10 on a professional stage.

The annual holiday fundraiser was a memorable and joyful occasion for families and friends, culminating in the much-anticipated children’s performance to Tchaikovsky’s iconic music with the dancers in charming tailor-made costumes alongside extravagant life-sized sets, while guests heartily applauded. The Hong Kong Ballet Guild hopes that children who experience ballet at a young age will eventually nurture a life-long love of the performing arts, and the Benefit gave them an early opportunity for a meaningful ballet experience.

Over 360 prominent society figures and celebrities turned out for an event of entertainment. Among them were The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2023 Organising Co-Chairs Mrs Michelle Miller Erb, Mrs Emily Lam Ho, Mrs Emelda Wong Trainor; Ms Daisy Ho, BBS, HKB Board of Governors Chairman; and Organising Committee members Prof Ava Kwong, Ms Vanessa Lam, Ms Wendy Law, Mrs Christy Liang, Ms Maya Lin, Mrs Deirdre Fu Tcheng, Mrs Charlotte Tsuei-Robinson and many more.

The Benefit’s engaging live and silent auctions and ‘Make a Pledge’ campaign raised money for HKB’s Student Ticket Fund and award-winning education and community outreach initiatives that support its outstanding dancers and world-class performances. Additionally, ‘Make a Pledge’ raised much-needed funds for the ‘Dancing to Hong Kong's Heartbeat 2.0’ programme, which will bring ballet to seniors and underserved families in Hong Kong. Guests eagerly participated to help HKB continue its artistic development and share the joy of ballet in the community.

Organising Committee Co-Chair Emily Lam Ho welcomed guests and acknowledged the Benefit’s generous sponsors, ‘We are truly grateful to our Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors and patrons and donors. Special thanks goes to Deirdre Fu Tcheng, Artistic Director Septime Webre, Executive Director Heidi Lee and of course, the HKB dancers and HKB team who worked hard to prepare the professional stage for our young performers, creating a once in a lifetime opportunity for them. You have done such a fantastic job in ensuring that HKB’s reputation and artistic excellence constantly exceed expectations.’

Co-Chair Emelda Wong Trainor added, ‘I would like to thank every committee member for their hard work and support, not just for this event but throughout the year. Without you, this Benefit would not be possible. Your support and donations directly support arts and culture in Hong Kong, and you also make it possible for HKB to share ballet with the local community, especially among those who may otherwise never experience it.’

Lastly, Co-Chair Michelle Miller Erb acknowledged HKB’s partners, ‘Thank you also to our auctioneer Elaine Kwok, Luxury Lifestyle English Media Partner Hong Kong Tatler, Media Partners VOGUE Hong Kong and Ming Pao Weekly, EX.R for the event PR and Hong Kong Cultural Centre for providing such an amazing venue for us year after year.’

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The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2023
Co-Chairs:
Mrs Michelle Miller Erb, Mrs Emily Lam Ho, Mrs Emelda Wong Trainor

GOLD SPONSORS
Perrier-Jouët Champagne
Pharmabelle Australian Skin-health & Manuka

SILVER SPONSORS
Amorepacific
Lane Crawford

BRONZE SPONSORS
Esther Thien and Family
Giuseppe Zanotti
NET-A-PORTER
Roger Lee Production Ltd.

Special Thanks
Ms Elaine C KWOK (Auctioneer)
Tatler Hong Kong (Luxury Lifestyle English Media Partner)
Ming Pao Weekly (Media Partner)
VOGUE Hong Kong (Media Partner)
EX-R Consulting Ltd. (Event PR)
Hong Kong Cultural Centre (Venue Partner)

For further information, please contact:
Jerry Qiu | Communications & Programme Manager | T: 21059753 | [email protected]
Ruth Chung | Senior Marketing and PR Officer | T: 21059716 | [email protected]

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
Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) is internationally recognised as a world-class institution that represents Hong Kong’s unique character. Since its inception in 1979, HKB has evolved into a vibrant performing arts organisation with a dynamic repertoire, forward-thinking community engagement initiatives and an emphasis on excellence.  

With 50 dancers from all over the globe, HKB has restaged classical and neoclassical masterworks and dynamic original ballets created for HKB and about Hong Kong. Additionally, HKB performs works by some of today’s most sought-after choreographers as well as innovative new works by its Choreographer-in-Residence, Hu Song Wei Ricky, and numerous emerging Hong Kong choreographers.

In addition to almost 50 worldwide tours, HKB also maintains a full schedule of award-winning community programmes and crossover collaborations throughout Hong Kong to ensure ballet is accessible to all. HKB has also produced original videos and dance films that have collectively garnered over 5.2 million views online, connecting with ballet lovers worldwide.