UOB Proudly Presents
Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon’s World Premiere

Celebrates Legendary Designer


[Hong Kong—30 January 2023] Hong Kong Ballet (HKB), Atlanta Ballet and Queensland Ballet collaborate to produce the much-anticipated world premiere of Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon by world-renowned Colombian-Belgian choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Proudly presented by UOB, Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon’s World Premiere will be running at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts’ Lyric Theatre during 24-26 March 2023. This extravagant production will be subsequently staged in Atlanta, USA by Atlanta Ballet in February 2024, and in Brisbane, Australia by Queensland Ballet in the fall of 2024.

A brilliant designer and shrewd businesswoman, firebrand Coco Chanel redefined the world of fashion and outfitted a new generation of modern women who were intelligent, ambitious and rebellious. Her iconic little black dress and bouclé jackets and skirts are now classic style staples seen all over the world.

This original ballet by Ochoa, who has created over 100 works for more than 70 companies worldwide, celebrates the complex life of the 20th century’s most intriguing designer with an original score by Peter Salem, elegant sets and costumes by the award-winning Jerome Kaplan and artistic collaboration by Nancy Meckler. This creative dream team is the force behind Dutch National Ballet’s Frida, based on the life of renowned artist Frida Kahlo. Salem’s music will be performed live by Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Fayçal Karoui at the Hong Kong world premiere.

With her wide range of dance training and acclaim for depicting modern narrative scenes in abstract and concise movements, Ochoa attempts to document Chanel's polarising reputation through ballet. Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon's world premiere promises to be an international sensation, chronicling an almost mythical rags to riches story. Not without her share of controversy, Chanel launched a powerful fashion empire, and more than a century later, her unforgettable legacy continues to inspire.

Tickets are now on sale to the public at HK TICKETING.

Editor’s Notes:
UOB Proudly Presents Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon
CHOREOGRAPHY Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
MUSIC Peter Salem
ARTISTIC COLLABORATION Nancy Meckler
SET & COSTUME DESIGN Jérôme Kaplan
COSTUME ASSISTANT TO THE DESIGNER Mark A Zappone
LIGHTING DESIGN Billy Chan
LIVE ORCHESTRA Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
CONDUCTOR Fayçal Karoui

24–26 MAR 2023
FRI 7:30pm | SAT–SUN 2:30pm & 7:30pm
Lyric Theatre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
$1,200 (limited VIP tickets), $720, $490, $320, $180
Suitable for ages 6 and above

*This production was inspired by real-life persons. Incidents, names, characters and timelines portrayed in this production are fictitious. Reference to any specific product, service, design, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, sponsorship or association by any person with Hong Kong Ballet.

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Co-Producers
Education And Community Outreach Sponsor
Artist Residency & Programme Partner

For further information, please contact:

Phoebe Ko | Director of Marketing, HKB | T: 21059716 | [email protected]
Jerry Qiu | Assistant Programme and Marketing Manager, HKB | T: 21059753 | [email protected]

About Hong Kong Ballet
One of Asia’s premier ballet companies, Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) is internationally recognised as a vibrant arts institution that represents Hong Kong’s unique character. Established in 1979 and led by Artistic Director Septime Webre, HKB has a dynamic repertoire performed by nearly 50 dancers from all over the globe and award-winning education and community programmes.

With almost 50 international tours, HKB has won recognition from critics and fans both at home and abroad. Its diverse repertoire includes classic and modern masterpieces, original full-length ballets created for HKB, an interactive ballet series for younger fans and groundbreaking dance by today’s most sought-after choreographers, including Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, Jiří Kylian, Nacho Duato and Trey McIntyre, among others. HKB maintains an active schedule of community initiatives throughout Hong Kong to ensure that ballet is accessible to people from all walks of life.


Dancer: Ye Feifei | Photography: SWKit | Courtesy of Hong Kong Ballet

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