Press Release - April 14, 2004
Ballet enthusiasts and supporters of the Renaissance ROM�s China Initiative in Toronto were today (April 14) advised to purchase tickets for the Hong Kong Ballet�s �Legend of the Great Archer� early as over 80 percent of the tickets for this North America Premiere have already been sold and the remaining tickets are selling fast.

A spokesman for the Hong Kong Ballet Organising Committee said: �All $250 VIP Gala tickets, which include a gala dinner at Le Royal Meridien King Edward Hotel following the performance, have been fully booked. Limited tickets for Orchestra and Dress Circle seats are still available at $80 and $50 respectively.�

Those interested should make hay and call the St Lawrence Centre Box Office at (416) 355-7723 or 1-800-708-6754, or pick up tickets in person at the St Lawrence Centre Box Office at 27 Front Street East, Toronto. The Box Office is open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Alternatively, they may arrange the purchase through the Box Office's Internet sales website: www.stlc.com.

The spokesman said the good response to the ticket sale reflected the public support for the �Legend of the Great Archer� and the Renaissance ROM�s China Initiative.

The performance, which will be staged at St Lawrence Centre for the Arts on May 7, is organized by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) not only as Hong Kong�s contribution to Canadian culture but also as a gesture of support to expand and improve the extraordinary Chinese gallery of the Royal Ontario Museum as a major centre for Chinese arts and culture in Canada.

It is the world�s first full-length ballet to be accompanied by Chinese music created by award-winning composer, Mr Kuan Nai-chung, and played by the world-renowned Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. Inspired by the classical Chinese folk tale about Yi, the Archer God, this powerful ballet by the Hong Kong Ballet Artistic Director, Stephen Jefferies, who was formerly the principal dancer of the National Ballet of Canada, will tour Toronto and three other cities in North America. The three cities are Vancouver, San Jose and Washington DC.

The Hong Kong Ballet�s North America Premiere of the �Legend of the Great Archer� in Toronto is fully supported by many special sponsors from Hong Kong, such as J.P. Morgan, OOCL, Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Information Services Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government; Exclusive Travel Sponsors, Air Canada and Tour East Holidays (Canada) Inc.; and Promotion sponsor, Cathay Pacific Airways.

Also supporting the Toronto event are Presenting Sponsor, Trillion Financial Group; Platinum Sponsors, Shiu Pong Group of Companies and Toronto Cathay Lions Club; Gold Sponsors, HSBC and Pricewater House Cooper.

The Fairchild Media Group, in conjunction with Fairchild TV, TalentVision and Fairchild Radio, has pledged its full support as the event�s Premium Media Sponsor. Other media sponsors include Ming Pao and World Journal. Sing Tao Daily has also offered to give its support.

For enquiries about the Hong Kong Ballet performance, please call the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) at (416) 924-5544 or visit the HKETO website at: www.hketo.ca.