[Meeting the Intellectuals in the Spring Hills] The Power and Emptiness of Nothing

Carolyn Choa was born and educated in Hong Kong at St. Paul’s Co-educational College, and graduated from Hull University and London Contemporary Dance School.

After a career as a contemporary dancer, working with choreographers including Micha Bergese, Muna Tseng, and Jonathan Lunn, she performed in multiple seasons at the Royal Opera House and English National Opera.

Choreography and directing credits include: The Storyteller series, The Greek Myths series (Jim Henson/ Channel 4), The Bartered Bride (Belfast Opera), Eugene Onegin, Lakmé (RCM), The Land of Smiles (RAM), Mirandolina (Lyric Hammersmith), The Crucible (LAMDA), Opera Showcase (QEH), Moll Flanders (Granada), The English Patient (Miramax), The Talented Mr. Ripley (Paramount/Miramax), Feast of Snails (London West End), Madama Butterfly (ENO 2005), Lithuanian National Opera (2006); The Metropolitan Opera NY (2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2016) Danscross (Beijing Dance Academy), Kommilitonen! (RAM and Julliard), Pilgrim’s Progress (ENO), Parsifal (Opera Lyon / The Metropolitan Opera in New York) Die Fledermaus (Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts 2015).

Carolyn was one of the directors of ENO’s Opera Works, a modular course for young singers, and has also led workshops for the University of the Arts (2010 and 2011). She was a guest speaker at the 92nd St Y in NY on the ‘Movement Talks’ series (April, 2014).

She produced the film The Wisdom of Crocodiles and has worked as a Chinese consultant for Miramax as well as a translator on several Chinese films, including Hero (director Zhang Yimou), The Promise (director Chen Kaige), ‘Curse of the Golden Flower’ (director Zhang Yimou), ‘The Banquet’ (director Feng Xiaogang), ‘The Flowers of War’ (director Zhang Yimou), ‘Let the Bullets Fly’ (director Jiang Wen).

She was co-editor and translator of The Vintage Book of Contemporary Chinese Fiction.

Art installations include the official opening of the Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard in London (May 2015) and for the Brontes Parsonage Museum (July - September 2015).

Upcoming projects include ‘Beauty and Sadness’ at the Lyric Theatre in HK (Spring 2019); ‘The Flying Dutchman' for Opera de Montreal (Fall 2019) and the Metropolitan Opera New York (Spring 2020); and Madama Butterfly at Wiener Staatsoper (Fall 2020) .

Carolyn was nominated for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards in 2009.

Other awards include the Olivier for Outstanding Contribution to Opera for ‘Madama Butterfly’, which she shared with Anthony Minghella, and the Claude Rostland Award for Best Production for ‘Parsifal’, for which she did the choreography.

For more about Carolyn Choa, come and listen to her story about “The Power and Emptiness of Nothing”. She will also hold a workshop called “Outside Words” decrypting the language of the body. At the 12th Lecture of the Meeting the Intellectuals in the Spring Hills Lecture Series, Ms. Carolyn Choa will elegantly unveil her experiences.

[Admission of Lecture]

Talk丨The Power and Emptiness of Nothing

Lecturer丨Carolyn Choa

Time丨31 October Wed. 19:00 -20:30

Venue丨Governing Board Meeting Room, Dao Yuan Building

Language丨English(Simultaneous interpreting service will be provided)

*Please bring your student/staff card or electronic ticket for sign-up at the lecture.Due to the limitation of seats, priority access is given to participants with successful registrations.

*The lecture would be given in English with Chinese interpretation. Please use your ID or campus card to borrow the headset. First come first served.

[Admission of Workshop]

Workshop丨Outside words

Time丨1 November Thur. 16:30-18:00

Venue丨Room 301, Student Centre

Language丨English(Chinese interpretation)

*Participants are limited to 20 students and staff members.

*A confirmation email will be sent to successful registrations. Due to limited quota, absence is vigorously discouraged. 

*As the workshop will involve instructions on body language, comfortable leisure attire is appreciated. Please arrive 15 minute in advance for warming-up.

[Meeting the Intellectuals in the Spring Hills]

“Meeting the Intellectuals in the Spring Hills” is one of the University's lecture series where the University will invite social elites in such fields as culture and arts to share with our students in form of salon or lecture to promote a discussion of thought-provoking issues or soul-searching experiences. During the lectures, everyone will have a chance to listen and respond on their world views, their aspirations, and intellectual taste in life.

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