THE Hong Kong Ballet can be forgiven for playing safe with its latest production because the evening begins where stage musicals end. Marius Petipa's Paquita, a mid-18th century romp that exemplified the pyrotechnics of the Imperial Russian Ballet, is a show-stopper.
The enthusiasm of the dancers in sumptuous costumes and glittering jewellery was well-suited to this energetic display - and to the Grand Pas in particular - a slightly ragged beginning to the opening night notwithstanding. They were urged on by a rousing orchestral performance of Leon Minkus' score.
Principal dancer Eriko Ochiai, no stranger to the role, and the trio must be singled out for the irresistible joyfulness of their performances.
Helen Lai's The Strangers seemed a little too demanding for the audience after this dazzling entertainment; the idea of presenting a contrast might have been taken a little too far.
Set at a ballet rehearsal, the piece is a comment on social and political life in contemporary Hong Kong. Proceedings are interrupted by sinister individuals in dark glasses carrying suitcases, and newspapers are used as metaphors in a variety of contexts.
A modern, experimental work, the hard-edged message with its bleak setting and confrontational relationships revealed Lai's background in contemporary dance and this piece was a trifle challenging after the unalloyed entertainment that had preceded it.
