FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hong Kong Ballet and The Royal Ballet School
Launch an Educational Partnership
[Hong Kong — 28 June 2025] Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) is proud to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Hong Kong Academy of Ballet (HKAB) with The Royal Ballet School in London. A valuable tool for strategic planning, the Memorandum helps HKB and The Royal Ballet School to align their resources and efforts as they collaborate together on shared objectives and goals to benefit many young dancers in the region.
The Royal Ballet School’s Director of Training and Access Mark Annear shared, ‘Since 2018, The Royal Ballet School’s activities in Hong Kong have grown into a popular programme of training for students and dance teachers. Our Intensive Courses, Inspire seminars and the Affiliate Training and Assessment Programme have made a positive impact on the dance community in the region, building a growing community of teachers through providing high-quality professional development and holistic learning experiences for young dance students. We are thrilled to be partnering with Hong Kong Ballet in the continuation of this work over the coming years.’
HKAB’s Associate Director of Training Irene Lo said, ‘This memorandum of understanding between The Royal Ballet School and Hong Kong Ballet marks a significant leap forward in dance education and cultural exchange by fostering collaboration, sharing expertise and creating new opportunities for students. We are thrilled to strengthen artistic ties across borders, shape the future of ballet and inspire new generations of dancers to reach new heights together.’
From 17 to 22 August, The Royal Ballet School will host ‘Inspire: Hong Kong Intensive’ at the Hong Kong Academy of Ballet. The School’s world-class teacher training team will return to Hong Kong with an inspiring programme for dance instructors to elevate their skills. The six-day series of practical and theoretical seminars explores the foundations and advanced elements of classical ballet technique, artistry and good teaching practice. Participants will be able to engage with fellow dance professionals to reflect on their practice, gain fresh ideas, enhance their skills and expand their knowledge of dance teaching. Registrations are now open and will close on 15 July.
During 21 July to 2 August, the HKAB’s Summer Intensive 2025 will offer professional ballet training for students ages 5-16, with intensive courses designed for young dancers, including classical ballet technique, conditioning and flexibility, pointe training, ballet variations and contemporary dance, among others. At the end of the programme, students (ages 7-16) will have a showcase to share their ballet journey with family and friends. HKB artistic members and alumni, Hong Kong Academy of Ballet teachers and local professionals will be instructing the students along with two prominent international guest teachers: The Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Mayara Magri and Singapore Ballet Academy Principal Han Kee Juan.
For further information, please contact:
Jerry Qiu | Communications & Programme Manager | T: 2105 9753 | [email protected]
Ruth Chung | Assistant Marketing and PR Manager | T: 2105 9716 | [email protected]
About The Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School was founded by Dame Ninette de Valois in 1926 and began as The Academy of Choreographic Art. The School is one of the world’s most celebrated centres for classical ballet training. It is the leading classical ballet school in the UK and an international institution, attracting dancers with exceptional potential from the UK and worldwide. Graduates of the School go on to professional careers with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and other leading UK and international companies. For nearly a century, the School has produced dancers and choreographers of international renown. Notable alumni include Margot Fonteyn, Kenneth MacMillan, Darcey Bussell, Lauren Cuthbertson, Marianela Nuñez, Marcelino Sambé and Christopher Wheeldon. The School sets the standard for the future of classical ballet training with its extensive teacher training programmes for the vocational or recreational sector. The School will celebrate 100 years in 2026, with a legacy built on excellence, and a future focused on expanding opportunity and access to shape the next century of classical ballet.
About Hong Kong Academy of Ballet
The Hong Kong Academy of Ballet offers high-quality classical ballet training in a warm, nurturing environment with a unique curriculum designed to build a solid foundation in ballet technique and develop artistry. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of disciplines from the Academy’s faculty, guest artists and choreographers and have exciting opportunities to perform with Hong Kong Ballet dancers.
About Hong Kong Ballet
One of Asia’s premier ballet companies, Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) is internationally recognized 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 programs.
With celebrated re-stagings of the classics, neoclassical masterworks by George Balanchine and others and original ballets created for HKB and about Hong Kong, HKB additionally performs works by its Artistic Director Septime Webre and some of today’s most sought-after choreographers, including Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, Wayne McGregor, Justin Peck, Jiří Kylian, Nacho Duato and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa as well as innovative new works by its Choreographer-in-Residence, Hu Song Wei Ricky, and numerous emerging Hong Kong choreographers.
HKB serves as one of Hong Kong’s most prominent cultural ambassadors, sharing its unique repertoire and style with audiences in Europe, North America, Mainland China and Asia. With over 50 international tours since its founding, this year HKB will have performed or presented immersive works in Macau, Venice, New York, London, Seoul and Shanghai. HKB maintains the Hong Kong Academy of Ballet, a professionally-oriented ballet school, as well as a full schedule of award-winning community programmes and crossover collaborations throughout Hong Kong to ensure ballet is accessible to all. HKB has also produced engaging original videos and dance films that have collectively garnered over 10 million views online, connecting with ballet lovers worldwide. Recently, Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker: A Hong Kong Adventure notably won UNESCO's Star of Outstanding Award.
HKB maintains an active schedule of community initiatives throughout Hong Kong to ensure that ballet is accessible to people from all walks of life.
