The Nutcracker Benefit 2012 held on December 9th, was a success. With over 350 guests (and half of which were children), a Nutcracker Children’s performance with 49 kids, magicians, balloon artists, fun and festive photo-booth, a children’s adaptation of the brand new Nutcracker by internationally acclaimed choreographer, Terrence Kohler, narrated by Madeline Onne (artistic director of Hong Kong Ballet), a Baby Dior exhibition, a fantastic silent auction selection from premiere getaways to Paris, Tokyo and beyond and fabulous villa stays in Niseko and Phuket, to exquisite accessories from Bvlgari and Kotur, to name a few. The best names in family photography were also on auction as well as premiere dining experiences from Otto E Mezzo, Cuisine Cuisine and Bo Innovation and lest we not forget, magical Beyond Dessert Tables. The live auction consisted of a much coveted role in a Hong Kong Ballet production as well as a made-to-measure costume and a private class with one of the Hong Kong Ballet’s dancers. Can you imagine the frenzy!  To top it all off, even Santa was on hand to meet and greet the children. It was a superb Sunday.  Held at the Island Shangri-La ballroom guests arrived clad in their elegant festive attire, and true “Sunday Best”. (It was a step-up for me, as Sunday’s are usually reserved for my favourite pair of worn in boyfriend jeans matched with the closest thing I can reach for in my closet!)  So dressing up on a Sunday did prove an effort. Actually the biggest obstacle for me was how on earth I was going to tame my horrendous lion’s mane on a Sunday! All my favourite go-to hair dressers were off, and I would be left solo with my Mason Pearson boar bristles… Sound a little tai-tai? Hahaha, no seriously in order to respect the event I wanted to make sure my hair would at least look as if I had brushed it. (To those of you that know me, I have often left the house in a forgetful frenzy without even a brush of the hair)  Eureka, I found a solution!! You see, all the hours of surfing the net did indeed prove productive .  I thought that perhaps if I don a “hair band” and tie my hair back a la Dolce & Gabbana, Sicilian temptress, then my problem would be solved.

It was an early start on Sunday morning. I had to be up a few hours earlier than usual to make sure the kids had a good hearty breakfast, had time to change into their costumes for the children’s performance, ensure the my daughter’s hair was done: she was an Italian dancer who needed a crown braid (!!!), my son didn’t rip, spill or destroy his evil King Rat costume, and ensure they made their 9am call time. Oh and did I mention that I had myself to tend to as well? This time my darling husband was left to his own devices. His only “duty” that day was to arrive at 11.15am. With all my tress stress, it turned out that I didn’t have to fret at all, as I stumbled upon Il Colpo at Pacific Place (now open on the second floor, right next to C’est La B) a few weeks earlier and found a new addition to my list of go-to hair saviours. I managed to sort out my hair dilemma and visited Daniel (stylist) for a quick blowdry. Since I had already purchased my Sicilian temptress hair accessory and had visions of emulating Monica Bellucci, I had to use it. However, Daniel’s vision of me was definitely more Blair Waldorf (of Gossip Girl fame) than Sicilian Vixen temptress, Monica Bellucci. The end result was somewhat different than I imagined, but I loved it all in same. I’m not much of a hair accessory person, but I certainly felt more princess than vagabond or vixen.

[Perhaps you can tell... hair issues are a point of weakness for me!]

Here I am with Annie Ho Ting.

Less about the hair and more about the Nutcracker benefit! Fast forward to 10.30am it was call time for all of the committee members of the Nutcracker Benefit organising committee. This year we had a magnificent committee who all came together for the love of ballet and to raise money for the Hong Kong Ballet to fund their outreach programmes to the underprivileged. Guests arrived with their little ones in tow, the young ladies donned their prettiest party gowns and the young masters and gentlemen in their smartest blazer and button-downs. It was truly a treat to see everyone dressed up!

Here’s a quick snap some of the committee members.

Left to Right Standing: Marianna Miller, Angie Ting, Christina Gaw Donoghugh, Daphne King Yao, Peggy Yeoh Lee, Malti Dialdas, Leigh Tung Chou, Sharie Ross Tse, Anne Wang Liu, Luisa Menarin, Su-Mei Thompson, Linda Ting, Lily Ahn Riddick, Connie Wei Yang Left to Right Kneeling: Vicky Wong, Wendy Chiang, Miranda Cheung Wong, Yvonne Wong Tsang, Esther Ma Lee, Deidre Fu-Tcheng, Vikki Tsang Ong

The three Co-Chairs of the Nutcracker Benefit 2012:

Leigh Tung-Chou in Roland Mouret (dress) and Yves
Saint Laurent (shoes), Sharie Ross-Tse in Dolce & Gabbana (dress) and Brian Atwood (shoes) and Anne Wang-Liu in Dior (dress) and Yves Saint Laurent (shoes) (holy hyphenations!)

And here are the 3 co-chairs of
the benefit with members of the Hong Kong Ballet Board:

Sharie Ross Tse, Daphne King-Yao (Board), Daisy Ho (Board), John Ying (Board Chairman), Anne Wang Liu, Leigh Tung-Chou and Janice Chan Choy (Board)

The 49 children that performed on in the show.

The programme

Baby Dior Exhibition

The event was a hit with the entire family.

The choreography of the entire show was put together by Deirdre Fu-Tcheng (Board Member), Luisa Menarin (committee member) and Vency Kwok (HK Ballet staff) and the script writing was by Joanna Hotung (Board Member), and all costume design by HK Ballet.

The children playing dress-up at the photo booth…

Jane and James Louey with their children, Jeremy, Jackie and Jamie.

Liana and Derek Yeung cheered on their two children.

Audry Ai Morrow with Anastasia Chunilal.

Committee members Lily Ahn Riddick and Fiona Kotur Marin.

Sabrina Fung Lam attended with her family.

Daphne King Yao, Sharie Ross Tse and Reyna Harileila (in Mary Katrantzou)

Tansy Lau Tom, Yolanda Choy Tang and Malti Dials

Miranda Cheung with Ada Wang Cheng who looked super in Alexander McQueen dress and belt

Angie and Ivan Ting came to support their children.

Longtime ballet guild member Linda Ting in DVF, with husband David.

Leigh Tung Chou, Yolanda Choy Tang, Anne Wang Liu and Martha Keswick (in Chloe).

Deirdre Fu-Tcheng celebrated the Nutcracker benefit with her mother, Mrs Fu and brother, Andre.

Ballet Guild Co-Chair and Board member Janice Chan-Choy with her husband Louis.

The three co-chairs had the support of their husbands: Nissim Tse, Julian Liu and Stanley Chou

Committee Member Marianna Miller (standing) with friends Caroline Yih and Sharene Mak.

Julian Liu and Kevin Lam

Ballet Guild Co-Chair and Board Member, Daphne King Yao with husband Michael

Me and my husband…

Leigh Tung Chou with her mother, Harriet Tung

Together with Michelle Cheng Chan and Alan Chan

It was such a wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning to kick off the Christmas season, as well as further the message of the Ballet to both young and old. On that note, my son wants to be the evil King Rat again in next years Nutcracker! Congratulations Nutcracker Benefit Committee 2012!  Till next year all you Glamamamas!

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All Photos: Instyle.com and Hong Kong Ballet