Producing its own stars is the mark of a mature ballet company and principal dancer Faye Leung is a symbol of Hong Kong Ballet's progress. Shanghai-born Leung has enjoyed a spectacular rise since joining the troupe in October 1996 and is now its longest-serving member.
'But not the oldest,' she adds quickly with a laugh.
Leung, who won a Hong Kong Dance Award for her role in Romeo and Juliet and performed at the Prague State Opera's ballet gala early this year, is preparing for Hong Kong Ballet's three-stop mainland tour from Saturday. It will be the full company's first appearance abroad since 2004.
She will be sharing the title role of Giselle with guest principal dancer Tan Yuanyuan as well as dancing the lead in Stanton Welch's contemporary piece, Clear. Leung will then reprise her role in Giselle at the end of November, this time alternating with fellow principal Jin Yao, when the production is staged at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
This will be her third appearance as Giselle, one of the technical and dramatic benchmarks of the ballerina repertoire. The last time Leung danced it was in May 2005 and she now feels she can bring more to it. 'I've improved and I have more maturity now.'
Critics who have followed her career closely in the past decade would agree she is a great asset not only for Hong Kong Ballet but the local dance scene. Her dancing is distinguished by exceptional lyricism and fluidity of movement, supported by a strong technique. She excels in contemporary ballets, with their complex lifts which show off her enviable plasticity, and grand classical roles which are illuminated by her breadth of movement and impeccable port de bras.
