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The Nutcracker danced for a lucky 360 by Hong Kong Ballet, its only performance of the holiday classic this winter amid Covid-19 lockdown

  • Live-streamed benefit performance to raise money that will support Hong Kong Ballet activities in 2021 was held at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel
  • Forty-eight children of members of the benefit’s organising committee took part in the performance along with seven members of the troupe

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Mrs Emily Lam Ho, co-chairman of The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2020, which featured an exclusive live stream of a children’s performance of The Nutcracker on Boxing Day at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel. Photo: Hong Kong Ballet

Christmas just isn’t the same without the Nutcracker. The fourth wave of coronavirus meant the Hong Kong Ballet had to cancel its performances of the festive classic this month. However, 360 guests did see a live-streamed version on Boxing Day during a virtual staging of the ballet company’s Christmas fundraiser.

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Forty-eight children of members of the gala organising committee aged twelve or younger (with one impossibly precocious dancer just one-and-a-half years old) starred alongside seven members of the Hong Kong Ballet in a pre-recorded video streamed at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel while the audience watched remotely, nibbling on canapé sets delivered to their homes in a red Christmas box.

Co-Chairs of The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2020 (from left to right): Mrs Lillian Lee Fong, Mrs Emily Lam Ho, Mrs Colleen Yu Fung. Photo: Hong Kong Ballet
Co-Chairs of The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2020 (from left to right): Mrs Lillian Lee Fong, Mrs Emily Lam Ho, Mrs Colleen Yu Fung. Photo: Hong Kong Ballet

We don’t know how many wore their Nutcracker “WonderHats” so that they could pretend to be the Nutcracker prince.

“We faced a lot of challenges in planning this event,” said Emily Lam Ho, co-chairman of the Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2020 organising committee. “But thanks to our thoughtful and accommodating partners and many others, today we are able to celebrate with you at The Virtual Wonderland.”

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A Nutcracker-themed canape set for The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2020. These were delivered to homes of the guests invited to watch the live stream of a children’s performance of The Nutcracker. Photo: Hong Kong Ballet
A Nutcracker-themed canape set for The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2020. These were delivered to homes of the guests invited to watch the live stream of a children’s performance of The Nutcracker. Photo: Hong Kong Ballet
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