Born in Hong Kong, China, Lai Pui Ki Peggy trained at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). She joined Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) as a Corps de Ballet member in 2012 and became a Coryphée in 2020. She recently graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Dance with distinction from HKAPA in 2022 on scholarship from the 2019 Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund.

With HKB, Lai has danced featured roles like Clara and Italian Doll in Terence Kohler’s The Nutcracker, Clara, Peony and Lead Cockatoo in Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker, Summer Fairy in Webre’s Cinderella, Princess Florine, Sincerity Fairy and Passion Fairy in Cynthia Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty, Odalesques in Anna-Marie Holmes’ Le Corsaire, Fei Nui and Lam Au Chun in Septime Webre’s Romeo+Juliet and Dormouse in Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland). She has also performed in John Meehan’s Swan Lake, Webre and Charla Genn’s Giselle, Nina Ananiashvili’s Don Quixote, David Allan’s Cinderella, Rudi van Dantzig’s Romeo and Juliet, Ronald Hynd's Coppélia, Pär Isberg’s Pinocchio, Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow, Val Caniparoli's Lady of the Camellias, Septime Webre's Peter Pan, The Great Gatsby, and Ballet Classics for Children: Cinderella, Natalie Weir’s Turandot, George Balanchine’s Jewels and Serenade, Jiří Kylián's Petite Mort, Alexei Ratmansky’s Le Carnaval des Animaux, Jorma Elo's Shape of Glow, Justin Peck’s Year of the Rabbit, Fei Bo’s Shenren Chang and Yuh Egami and Hu Song Wei Ricky’s The Rite of Spring.

Lai won a gold medal at the 39^th Open Dance Contest in Hong Kong in 2011, a silver medal at the 7^th Young Ballet Stars Awards hosted by Hong Kong Ballet Group in 2010, gold medals and Outstanding Awards at Open Dance Contests in Hong Kong between 2005 and 2007 and gold medals at Young Ballet Stars Awards hosted by Hong Kong Ballet Group between 2003 and 2005.

Dancer Q&A

1. Why did you start dancing?
I was chubby, and my mom wanted me to lose weight.

2. What is the attribute you most like about yourself?
I am straightforward and honest.

3. What is your favourite food?
My favourite food is spicy Sichuan hotpot.

4. What would you be if you were not a dancer?
I would be an educator and a teacher.

5. What is your personal style like?
My style is very elegant, all white.

6. Where is the most interesting place you have ever visited or want to visit?
I want to visit Waimangu Volcanic Valley, because I love volcanoes.

7. What is the coolest thing about being a dancer?
I can kick someone’s head if I am ever in a fight.

8. Who is your favourite dancer who has inspired you?
Svetlana Zakharova