"A Woman Pursues Her Passion In Life and Dance" by The Standard

[originally published by The Standard, September 10, 2014]

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Harriet Chung will be the face of the highly anticipated world premiere musical debut in Hong Kong: GOLDEN LOTUS - The Musical, on show from 12-14 September 2014.

Harriet Chung began her professional ballet training at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. She then attended the prestigious Beijing Ballet Institute in China where she trained in classical Russian ballet technique. To further her development, Chung subsequently traveled to Toronto to study at the esteemed National Ballet of Canada where she studied the Checcetti ballet method. Her extensive training in various idioms of ballet technique created a solid foundation, which served as a prelude to a thriving, illustrious career.

She began her professional career as principal dancers in several dance companies; the Ontario Ballet Theatre (Toronto), The Empire State Ballet (New York), and Xing Dance Theatre (Toronto). It was during her time with Xing Dance Theatre when she came under the tutelage of renowned choreographer Xing Bang Fu.

Chung's comprehensive training in diverse dance forms quickly led her into the remarkable world of musical theatre. While performing in the Toronto production of the Phantom of the Opera, she was offered a contract as principal dance at Canada's foremost contemporary ballet company – Ballet British Columbia. Regrettably, Chung had had to turn down the offer to explore in depth her passion for musical theatre. Shortly after, she was given the valuable opportunity to join the most successful musical theatre production in German history – Cats, in Hamburg, Germany.

Harriet Chung's upcoming performances include the long-awaited world premiere of the musical Golden Lotus in Hong Kong, in her capacity as artistic director/vocal coach and the lead. Chung has been a part of the 10-year production since the very beginning. Apart from playing the title role in the ASCAP/Disney Musical Theatre presentation of Golden Lotus in New York City, she was also invited to sing on the CD record label.