LCSD to present Margaret Lau’s new ballet appreciation lecture series

     Local ballet educator Margaret Lau will host a new chapter of the popular lecture series on ballet appreciation in July, August and September.
 
     Following the theme "Best Loved Pas de Deux", Lau will select and discuss more than 20 signature pas de deux performed by lead male and female dancers in the history of the genre in this series of 10 lectures.
 
     All of the lectures, to be conducted in Cantonese and supplemented with video clips of repertoire, will be held at 7.30pm at AC1, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Details are as follows:
 
July 23 (Thursday)
Topic: "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker"
Video clips: Mariinsky Ballet (Russia), Bolshoi Ballet (Russia), the Royal Ballet (United Kingdom), Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo (Monaco) and New York City Ballet (United States)
 
July 30 (Thursday)
Topic: "Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux", "After the Rain Pas de Deux", "Rubies" from "Jewels" and "The Flames of Paris"
Video clips: Paris Opera Ballet (France), Mikhailovsky Ballet (Russia), New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet (United States), Bolshoi Ballet and more
 
August 6 (Thursday)
Topic: "The Sleeping Beauty" and "Giselle"
Video clips: The Royal Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin (Germany), Teatro alla Scala Ballet (Italy), Mariinsky Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet
 
August 13 (Thursday)
Topic: "Afternoon of a Faun", "Winter Dreams", "Spartacus" and "Diamonds" from "Jewels"
Video clips: Paris Opera Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, the Royal Ballet and Mikhailovsky Ballet
 
August 20 (Thursday)
Topic: "Coppélia" and "La Fille mal gardée"
Video clips: The Royal Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet
 
August 27 (Thursday)
Topic: "Onegin" and "The Taming of the Shrew"
Video clips: The National Ballet of China, Stuttgart Ballet (Germany), Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and Bolshoi Ballet
 
September 3 (Thursday)
Topic: "In the Night", "Boléro", "Le Grand Pas de Deux" and "Carmen"
Video clips: Paris Opera Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet and more
 
September 10 (Thursday)
Topic: "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "The Dream" and "The Little Mermaid"
Video clips: The Hamburg Ballet (Germany), San Francisco Ballet, Teatro alla Scala Ballet, the Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre
 
September 17 (Thursday)
Topic: "Spring and Fall", "Sylvia", "Beethoven Project" and "What Love Tells Me" from "Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler"
Video clips: Paris Opera Ballet and the Hamburg Ballet
 
September 24 (Thursday)
Topic: "Hobson's Choice" and "Manon"
Video clips: Birmingham Royal Ballet (United Kingdom), Paris Opera Ballet and the Royal Ballet
 
     Margaret Lau is a seasoned dance critic on the subject of ballet in Hong Kong. Her published works include "Twinkle Twinkle Dance Stars", "Chinese Ballet Sketches" and "Chinese Dancers in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan". Lau has a passion for ballet and travels extensively to attend and cover dance performances. Her experience and knowledge undoubtedly enhance audiences' understanding for appreciation of ballet performances.
 
     The "Best Loved Pas de Deux" lecture series on appreciating ballet is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets priced at $50 (for each lecture, with free seating) are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/dance/programs_987.html.