Carolyn Choa

Carolyn Choa was born and educated in Hong Kong at St. Paul’s Co-educational College, Hull University and the London School of Contemporary Dance. As a dancer, she toured extensively in Europe, the UK and the Far East, also performing in multiple seasons at the Royal Opera House and English National Opera. As a choreographer: »The Bartered Bride« (Belfast Opera), »Eugene Onegin«, »Lakmé« (RCM), »The Land of Smiles« (RAM), »Mirandolina« (Lyric Hammersmith), »The Storyteller« series (Jim Hensons), »The Greek Myths« series (Jim Hensons), »Moll Flanders« (Granada) »The Crucible« (LAMDA), »Opera Showcase« (QEH), »Feast of Snails« (London West End), »The English Patient« (Miramax), »The Talented Mr. Ripley« (Paramount/Miramax), »Beijing Ren« (with Jonathan Lunn, Beijing Dance Academy), »Kommilitonen! « (RAM and Julliard), »Pilgrim’s Progress« (ENO), »Beauty and Sadness« (Lyric Theatre HK), »Parsifal« (Opera Lyon / The Metropolitan Opera, NY), »Der Fliegende Holländer« (Festival Opéra de Quebec, The Metropolitan Opera, NY). As a director: »Madama Butterfly« (ENO, Lithuanian National Opera; The Metropolitan Opera NY); »Die Fledermaus« (Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts); »Beauty and Sadness« (Lyric Theatre Hong Kong). Art installations include a filmed solo for the Brontes Parsonage Museum in Yorkshire and »The Brush and the Sword« for the official opening of the Shangri-la Hotel at the Shard in London. She was one of the directors of ENO’s ‘Opera Works’, led workshops for the University of the Arts, and was a guest lecturer for the HK Chinese University in Shenzhen (»The Power and Emptiness of Nothing«). Carolyn was co-editor and a translator of »The Vintage Book of Contemporary Chinese Fiction«. Translations for films include »Hero« (dir. Zhang Yimou), »The Promise« (dir. Chen Kaige), »Curse of the Golden Flower« (dir. Zhang Yimou), »The Banquet« (dir. Feng Xiaogang), »The Flowers of War« (dir. Zhang Yimou), and »Let the Bullets Fly« (dir. Zhang Wen). 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.