Carolyn Choa

Carolyn 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 with ‘Mantis’ and ‘Muna Tseng Dance Projects’ in Europe, the UK and the Far East, also performing at the London Palladium, 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), “Madama Butterfly” (ENO, Lithuanian National Opera, The Metropolitan Opera NY, Wiener Staatsoper), “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, Wiener Staatsoper); “Die Fledermaus” (Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts); “Beauty and Sadness” (Lyric Theatre Hong Kong). As a film producer: “The Wisdom of Crocodiles” (dir. Leong Po-Chih)

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 speaker 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 “Madam Butterfly” which she shared with Anthony Minghella.