As Faye Leung talks about her latest projects, including an autobiography that came out yesterday and a lead role in the Hong Kong Dance Company production Snow Fox this Friday, the star dancer exudes radiance and confidence. Now a freelance artist, Leung is making the most of the many opportunities that are coming her way. 'I don't know why I got so lucky,' Leung says. 'As a freelancer, you usually have to look for jobs, but people have been approaching me.' Luck has not always been on her side, however. A year ago, Leung, who at that time was Hong Kong Ballet's star ballerina, with 13 years of service, was told by board member Linda Fung King that her contract was terminated and she must leave immediately. 'It was the worst time of my life.' Leung says. 'I didn't want to go out or talk to anyone. If it hadn't been for my family and friends I don't know how I'd have survived.' In the following months, 'I felt like I was living in hell,' she says. But Leung refused to go quietly and fought to clear her name. After lengthy talks, Hong Kong Ballet issued a press statement in April acknowledging her contribution over the years and apologising for any 'concerns' that had been raised about her reputation. Asked today if she feels the statement was sufficient, Leung says: 'To be honest, nothing would be enough to make me feel better.' She did, however, get her wish for a farewell performance with Hong Kong Ballet in the title role of Cinderella in August. Dancing such a big role was a daunting task given that it was seven months since Leung had been able to perform or take the daily classes that are essential for ballet dancers to maintain their technique. 'Everyone thought I was crazy,' Leung says. 'But I had a good start with Hong Kong Ballet and I wanted to have a perfect ending.' She worked flat out for six weeks to get in shape and performed two enchanting shows to packed houses. An emotional last night had friends and fans in the audience chanting her name at the curtain call and many dancers in tears in the wings. Leung says she was never given a proper explanation for her dismissal or the way it was carried out but has stopped looking for one. 'I don't want to know any more - if they told me right now I wouldn't care. I just want to move on.' So like the legendary phoenix, Leung has risen from the ashes and renewed herself. She recently appeared in a Perry Chiu Experimental Theatre Company drama production. It was the first time she had worked with a theatre troupe and it was challenging to fit the dance and acting sequences together. Her former Hong Kong Ballet colleague, Carlo Pacis, was called in to do the choreography at her request. 'I wanted someone who knows me well. That was especially important because I was working with so many other people I didn't know,' says Leung. 'When we tried to put the acting and dance together and it didn't work; Carlo fixed a lot of things.' This weekend Leung will be making a guest appearance with Hong Kong Dance Company in its rerun of Snow Fox, one of a hit trilogy of shows based on the martial arts novels of Louis Cha. Leung was surprised when the company called her and asked if they were sure they wanted a ballet dancer to appear in a Chinese dance production. Although she had learned a little Chinese dance at school, she had never performed it on stage 'and haven't touched it since I was 10 years old'. Initially, Leung thought Chinese dance would be easier than ballet because she wouldn't have to dance on pointe. However, pointe shoes protect the feet and without them she found she was over-pointing and getting cramp as a result. The many other differences in technique and movement between the two genres also proved demanding. After doing her first full run-through, Leung says, 'I was sitting on the floor - it felt like I couldn't breathe; my feet were numb but I had to pretend that I was fine. When I got up and tried to walk it was awful.' Characteristically, however, she refused offers to simplify the choreography, saying that she was determined to learn to do it properly. Leung says the best part of the experience is how friendly the dancers are. 'That's something that's really been holding me up and making me happy, making me want to come to work every day.' After Snow Fox, Leung's learning curve will go from steep to vertical as she is set to star in a new permanent show at City of Dreams in Macau being created by Franco Dragone Entertainment, a major international competitor of Cirque du Soleil. Leung was approached by the show's artistic director, Maggi Sietsma, the former dean of dance at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, who knew her work with Hong Kong Ballet. At first Leung was hesitant: 'I was imagining a casino show, like a showgirl thing.' However, she trusted Sietsma and was reassured by meeting the show's choreographer, Giuliano Peparini, who has worked with respected names such as French choreographer Roland Petit and Russia's Mariinsky Ballet. The aquatic-themed production, scheduled to open in July, will be housed in a 2,000-seat venue with a stage that opens to reveal an eight-metre-deep water tank. Next month Leung will start by spending two months at Dragone's headquarters in Belgium for training. 'Because it's a show with water I'll be learning how to swim and dive, as well as doing dancing and acting.' she says. She adds that she will also learn to fly. Just like a phoenix. Snow Fox, Fri-Sat, 7.45pm; Sat and Jan 24, 3pm, HK Cultural Centre Grand Theatre, TST, HK$160-HK$220. Inquiries: 3103 1806
