Ballet shows at Istana Budaya

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TWO delightful dance repertoires featuring award-winning international dancers will debut for the first time in Kuala Lumpur for charity.

Ballet dance fans and enthusiasts should not miss the productions Carmen and Paquita, which will be showing on Jan 9 and 10 at 8.30pm at Istana Budaya (IB), Kuala Lumpur.

The shows are being presented by non-profit organisation Danceworks Production in association with Ena Ballet Studio Company of Nara City, Japan, with the main sponsor being Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd.

The full-length neo-classical ballet Carmen will have the role of the same name reprised by Ena Hirose, who is founder, director and co-artistic director of the Ena Ballet Studio Japan.

In sync: Two dancers from Japan, aged 15 and 16, who achieved first and second places at an international classical ballet competition in Australia recently, rehearsing for the upcoming performance at Istana Budaya.

Paquita is a classical ballet with a Spanish flavour, to be led by Lei Zhao, the first soloist of the prestigious Birmingham Royal Ballet (UK) and Connor Walsh, the principal dancer of Houston Ballet, the fourth largest dance company in the US.

Walsh will also partner Hirose for the Carmen production, playing the role of Don Jose.

Danceworks 2010 organising committee chairperson Dr Chen Wei said this show marks the fourth by Danceworks Production since the organisation was founded in 1998.

“Various beneficiaries have benefited from our previous shows where all 100% proceeds are donated to charity,” said Dr Chen Wei during a press conference of the upcoming production at Istana Budaya.

“This time, all box office proceeds will be channelled entirely to these four beneficiaries - namely Sin Chew Foundation, Lions Lyfe-Line Leukemia Fund, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and Living Home Malaysia.”

Carmen is an original choreography by Choong Wan Chin which premiered in Japan last year and was well-received by the audiences there.

Choong, who is also Dr Chen Wei’s daughter, joined Ena Ballet Studio, Japan, in 2001 as a resident choreographer before co-founding and co-directing the Ena Ballet Studio Company in 2006.

She has created numerous short pieces and full-length works, and is being invited to present two choreographies at the International Ballet Festival of Columbia in June next year.

At the press conference, Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd also presented a cheque of RM40,000 to Danceworks Production.

Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad corporate communications head Datuk Cheah Sam Kip said the company was launching its 2010 corporate social responsibility by coming on board as main sponsor for the shows.

“We are continuously finding ways to communicate with the diverse communities in Malaysia that will provide us with the understanding to expand our company in overseas markets,” said Cheah.

The shows will see some 18 international dancers from the US, UK, Japan, Thailand and Singapore, and more than 40 Malaysians.

“It will give Malaysian dancers the opportunity to perform with renowned dancers, besides learning from their counterparts,” said Dr Chen Wei, adding that tickets are already selling fast prior to this press conference without media publicity.