Dancing by moonlight

There is nothing quite as graceful as two ballet dancers floating across a stage, their bodies echoing one another, and their movements conveying a thousand emotions without anyone speaking a word.

The Hong Kong Ballet will be putting its young and emerging talent on display in New Moon, a programme of seven pas de deux - or duets - each about seven to nine minutes long.

New Moon opens with Flower Festival in Genzano, a classic from the 19th-century choreographer and dancer August Bournonville. Company dancers and choreographers will perform five of the pieces, with acclaimed Canadian choreographer Peter Quanz rounding out the mixed bill with Luminous.

New Moon is based on phases of the moon, much like the new dancers and choreographers at the company, says artistic director Madeleine Onne.

Company dancer Kostyantyn Keshyshev will make his choreographic debut with Black and White. 'It's called [that] because of who we are. There's this good side, and the side that comes out when we're angry or whenever things fall apart. I figured I might try and put that into dance,' he says. 'This duet is about people, relationships.'

Keshyshev has looked inward to draw inspiration for his work. 'I take the story, usually from my experiences from the past,' says the Ukrainian-born, Canadian-trained dancer.