The world renowned Lyon Opera Ballet will perform Tricodex, choreographed by Philippe Decoufle, to launch its Asia premiere in Hong Kong in June.

The stage of the ballet is part of the ongoing French May cultural festival and also in the framework of the French Year in China.

According to Organizers of the French May cultural festival on Sunday, the show, full of imagination, humor and invention, features 28 dancers, 150 costumes and spectacular video projections and lots of dancing flying actions, including a man riding a bicycle suspended from the ceiling and bungee jumping.

The dancers' acrobatic technique complements Decoufle's dance style.

Tricodex completes Decoufle's three-part series of multimedia dance along with Codex (1987) and Decodex (1995), which was inspired by Codex Seraphinianus, a fanciful encyclopedia createdby Italian artist and naturalist Luigi Serafini.

First published in 1981 and subtitled A visual Encyclopaedia of an Imaginary Universe, Serafini invented a codified world of mythical animals, imaginary plants, insects, mathematical equations, hairstyles, playing cards, flying machines and labyrinths.

Tricodex marks the Lyon Opera Ballet's fifth appearance in Hong Kong. Founded in 1969, the ballet company is known for its experimental and adventurous repertoire. Under the leadership of Yorgos Loukos, the company has commissioned works from young choreographers and performed great classics, among them new versions of Cinderella and Coppelia by Maguy Marin and a new interpretation of Romeo and Juliet by Angelin Preljocaj.

Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Tricodex by Lyon Opera Ballet will be staged on June 3 and 4 at the Grand Theater, Hong Kong Cultural Center.
 
(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2005)