FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hong Kong Ballet Announces its Inspiring 2025/26 Season ‘Shape of Grace’
[Hong Kong — 4 July 2025] Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) is thrilled to announce its 2025/26 Season ‘Shape of Grace’ productions. This fall, UOB 90th Anniversary Proudly Presents Shape of Grace Gala will dazzle audiences, while Romeo + Juliet will feature the best of East meets West and celebrating the transformative power of love that triumphs over tragedy. Audiences can also anticipate a trio of classic fairytales that have captured imaginations for generations: The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Ballet Carnival for Kids: Cinderella!. Furthermore, HKB is committed to pushing the envelope in how ballet is expressed in the modern world. Glam Rock and Wayne McGregor: On The Other Earth blend tradition with innovation to find groundbreaking new ways to connect with audiences both onstage and beyond and keep ballet vibrant, relevant and ever-evolving. Don't miss our Summer Fling: Ballet Family Fun Day on 1 August, a delightful introduction into the world of ballet for young audiences and families.
On the international stage in 2025, HKB will present The Butterfly Lovers in New York, Romeo + Juliet in Seoul and Carmina Burana with The Last Song in Shanghai. The new post-cinematic choreographic installation Wayne McGregor: On The Other Earth, co-produced with Hong Kong Baptist University, Studio Wayne McGregor (London), will premiere in Venice in July 2025, have a residency at London’s famed Somerset House and then make its way to Tai Kwun in summer 2026.
Artistic Director Septime Webre shared, ‘Hong Kong Ballet stands out as a dynamic Hong Kong cultural ambassador, forging collaborations with international partners that highlight the city’s vibrant artistry on the global stage. Our goal is to ultimately connect audiences worldwide to the city’s unique energy and cultural heritage.’
Patrons can book season subscriptions from now to 31 Aug 2025 at POPTICKET to get the best available seats for the best prices. This year, people can choose their preferred productions and also have the same seat/s for all of their subscription productions in the premium package. Additionally, current members of Friends of Hong Kong Ballet can enjoy up to 30% off, and non- members can receive up to 25% off performances. Join us as we sculpt movement into poetry and give grace its most breathtaking shape yet!
International Collaborations
HKB creates dynamic projects with artists and organisations from other disciplines for cross- cultural creativity and community engagement. Each year, the company collaborates with numerous international artists—dancers, choreographers, designers, librettists—and international ballet companies to create works like Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon (Queensland Ballet and Atlanta Ballet) and ALICE (in wonderland) (Western Australian Ballet). The annual Abu Dhabi Festival, who has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with HKB, will spotlight inspiring HKB performances, while The Royal Ballet School will partner with Hong Kong Academy of Ballet to create a hub for artistic growth, creative excellence and cultural exchange in Asia. Additionally, Guangzhou Opera House and HKB have established the ‘Greater Bay Area Ballet Incubation Centre’ to provide long-term programmes that nurture young artists and create exceptional ballet works. The Centre will also be a platform for emerging choreographers and dancers and host educational outreach activities to promote ballet in the Greater Bay Area.
Community Outreach and ESG Awareness
Beyond performances on the global stage, HKB is also deeply invested in the local community. Outreach initiatives like the Hong Kong Academy of Ballet and Silver Ballet for seniors continue to grow, bringing dance education, creative workshops and inspiring performances to schools, neighbourhoods and those who might not otherwise have access to the arts. The company believes that ballet has the power to uplift, unite and spark joy in every corner of the city.
In its 46th year, HKB is mindful that everything it does could have a substantial impact on the city over time. The company strives to become a greener organisation and has been actively integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies, forming a ‘Green Team’ task force and adopting innovative practices that reduce environmental impact and prioritise sustainability. The focus is on energy reduction and waste management, raising awareness with employee training and cultivating a shared responsibility for the world we live in.
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2025/26 Season Productions
Summer Fling: Ballet Family Fun Day [1 AUG 2025]
Participants will enjoy a lively one-hour performance in an informal studio theatre setting and be treated to excerpts of HKB beloved classics like the classic fairytale The Sleeping Beauty, a retro Hong Kong Romeo + Juliet and other inspiring works with live music by pianist Nicholas Lau. This delightful event will bring together people of all ages for an energetic and memorable ballet experience! There will also be an exciting ballet workshop for participants to learn some dynamic ballet choreography, admire original costumes up close, create their own unique souvenirs and have fun creating memories in a photo booth.
UOB 90th Anniversary Proudly Presents Shape of Grace Gala [15 OCT 2025]
With acclaimed international guest artists and HKB’s fabulous dancers, this electrifying gala showcases breathtaking works, including a salute to Hong Kong icon Leslie Cheung and special excerpts from Le Corsaire, The Butterfly Lovers, Carmina Burana, Coco Chanel, ALICE (in wonderland) and more. Experience the timeless magic of dance gracefully bringing us together for one extraordinary evening!
Romeo + Juliet [17-19 OCT 2025]
Experience the thrill of first love and the drama of warring families in 1960s Hong Kong! Shakespeare’s timeless tale of star-crossed lovers is given a fresh, thought-provoking retelling in Septime Webre’s lush Romeo + Juliet, with captivating dancing, lively mahjong games and glamorous cheongsams. The show incorporates intense street battles with traditional Hong Kong-style kung fu against visually authentic sets inspired by old Hong Kong’s cityscape.
The Nutcracker [12-28 DEC 2025]
In its glorious fifth year, and celebrating 100 fabulous performances, Septime Webre's heartwarming The Nutcracker: A Hong Kong Adventure returns to delight audiences of all ages in an exciting Christmas Eve adventure! Clara, Fritz and the Nutcracker Prince set out to defeat the Rat King and restore order to their magical kingdom. This enchanting classic captures the wonder of childhood as it celebrates early 20th century Hong Kong's history, characters and natural beauty.
Ballet Carnival for Kids: Cinderella! [7 FEB 2026]
Follow Cinderella to the royal ball! An entertaining adaptation of the beloved fairytale, this interactive programme for young audiences features vibrant choreography, Prokofiev’s iconic score and gorgeous costumes. With ample wit and humour, the show will bewitch audiences of all ages with its triumphant rags-to-riches story as heartbreak turns into joy.
Glam Rock [10-12 APR 2026]
Get ready for high drama and phenomenal music at an evening featuring Andonis Foniadakis’ Strangelove with music by Depeche Mode, Trey McIntyre’s Mercury Half-Life with a score by Freddie Mercury and Queen and an exciting world premiere from HKB’s Choreographer-in- Residence Hu Song Wei Ricky set to the music of local rock band Beyond.
The Sleeping Beauty A New Production [30 MAY – 7 JUN 2026]
Renowned choreographer Vladimir Malakhov weaves a powerful tale of good triumphing over evil as Princess Aurora and Prince Desiree overcome the evil fairy Carabosse with the help of the good Lilac Fairy. Considered the most perfect classical ballet ever created, The Sleeping Beauty features a glorious Tchaikovsky score and acclaimed international guest artists.
HKB on Tour | New York
The Butterfly Lovers [22-25 AUG 2025]
The Butterfly Lovers, honoured with six awards at the 26th Hong Kong Dance Awards, will have its US premiere with four performances this August at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, one of the most prestigious stages in the world. Reimagined by an international team of creative minds together with HKB’s Choreographer-in-Residence Hu Song Wei Ricky and his choreographer wife Mai Jingwen, The Butterfly Lovers is a legendary Chinese folktale about humble scholar Liang Shanbo and aristocratic heiress Zhu Yingtai, who disguises herself as a boy in order to study at a prestigious academy.
HKB on Tour | Seoul
Romeo + Juliet [26-27 SEP 2025]
Romeo + Juliet was in high demand during its US tour to New York and North Carolina in 2023, receiving enthusiastic public and critical acclaim. This September, Romeo + Juliet will be performed as the opening programme of 'Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul' at The National Theater of Korea.
HKB on Tour | Shanghai
Carmina Burana with The Last Song [14-15 NOV 2025]
HKB’s Choreographer-in-Residence Hu Song Wei Ricky’s poignant The Last Song and Septime Webre’s powerful dance masterpiece Carmina Burana. Under the baton of HK Phil Resident Conductor Lio Kuokman, this epic double bill programme uniquely brings the acclaimed dancers of HKB and the world-class musicians of the HK Phil together for a celebration of culture and artistry combining riveting music with visually arresting dance. Carmina Burana won Outstanding Large Venue Production, and The Last Song won Outstanding Choreography at the 24th HK Dance Alliance Awards.
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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 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.
