The dance company’s first full-length production following a seven-month hiatus is a fresh, ambitious take on ‘Cinderella’
Hong Kong’s flagship dance company will stage Cinderella, its first live performance of the year, from July 8 to 10 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Four key members from different departments within the company tell us what unique magic they are casting to make this classic fairy tale a dream come true.
James Kronzer, set designer
My earliest memory of Cinderella is probably the 1950 Disney animation. That had a magical quality to it and I think it is every child’s dream to have something like that happening to them. I also enjoyed the visual vocabulary of that film. It was boiled down to the essential elements.
We are looking to honour the tradition of the piece but also make it relevant to today’s audience. So our production is magical at times, such as my favourite part, which is The Ball scene, because of how regal it is. We have gone over the top with it. But instead of just the magical elements, the show also presents the psyche of Cinderella when the clocks strike midnight by showing not just one clock but many that appear all of a sudden, for instance. We also rely heavily on the theme of the forest, with the whole ballet being framed by trees. The forest is a place of safety, contemplation, mourning and sometimes fear. It can also be regal and majestic.
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