Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) proudly announces its ‘Larger Than Life’ 2023/24 Season showcasing eight beloved ballets. With delightful classic ballets, ground-breaking contemporary works and an exciting Beijing tour, HKB is taking over the city like never before! Audiences will be thrilled by an encore of HKB Artistic Director Septime Webre’s The Great Gatsby and The Nutcracker as well as a captivating new Swan Lake world premiere.
Webre shares, ‘Our artists are larger than life both on stage and in our community, leaving an impactful footprint in all corners of our vibrant city. This season we’ve got interactive free family activities, a bold series of mainstage productions and a lot to look forward to.’
In July, HKB had its world premiere of Sam and her Amazing Book of Dinosaurs with co-producer 59 Productions (UK), kicking off International Arts Carnival 2023 and HKB’s thrilling 2023/24 season. Fusing ballet with cutting-edge arts technology, the innovative production received critical acclaim, with RTHK Radio 4 Arts News enthusing, ‘The audience, especially the children, were immersed and inspired by the performance even without 3D glasses. The production allows young dancers to showcase their talents, fully demonstrating the vitality of ballet.’
2023/24 Season highlights include:
- Encores of Webre’s enthralling Roaring Twenties melodrama The Great Gatsby and festive family favourite The Nutcracker
- Principal dancers from great dance companies Marianela Nuñez, Victor Caixeta, Daniil Simkin, Fang Mengying and Chen Zhuming
- A dazzling world premiere of Yuri Possokhov’s mesmerising Swan Lake starring Matthew Ball from The Royal Ballet
- Carmina Burana in Beijing with over 300 artists from across China (Hong Kong, Beijing and Macau)
- Up to 15% discount on early bird tickets
In September, Ballet Carnival for Kids, a thrilling gala performance for younger audiences, features excerpts from beloved classics Swan Lake, Don Quixote and exciting contemporary works. Designed for families, this is the perfect introduction to the magical world of ballet, offering entertaining, age-appropriate insights on choreography, music and creativity.
The much-anticipated The Great Gatsby returns for eight performances in October after its sold-out 2019 debut, which was called, ‘another triumph for Asia’s premier ballet company’ and ‘a feast for the eyes’. Academy Award-winning designer Tim Yip’s original Art Deco sets and costumes delightfully capture the sound and exuberant energy of the Jazz Age, as Gatsby dreams of being reunited with his long-lost love.
Spotlighting HKB’s stellar artists alongside some of the world’s most talked-about international superstars like Marianela Nuñez (The Royal Ballet), Victor Caixeta (Dutch National Ballet), Daniil Simkin (Berlin State Ballet), Fang Mengying and Chen Zhuming (National Ballet of China), the grand International Gala of Stars 2023 promises to be an enthralling must-see event with a glittering programme of thrilling masterpieces and stylish contemporary works in November.
During the holiday season, Webre’s heartwarming The Nutcracker returns to bring festive cheer in a wonderous celebration of early 20th century Hong Kong’s history and characters. Full of magic and lots of local cultural elements like a bun tower climbing competition, lion dance and blossoming bauhinias, the exuberant production has been described by critics as ‘full of vitality and freshness’ and ’sure to be loved by locals and visitors alike for many years to come’.
In January 2024, join HKB’s Beijing Tour with Carmina Burana, an extravagant feast for the senses, dancing through a journey which begins in medieval times and works its way to the present. More than 300 artists from across China will join forces, including the Macao Orchestra and over 150 singers from Beijing’s China National Symphony Orchestra Chorus on dizzying eight-metre scaffolding that evokes a medieval cloister.
Get ready for an electrifying evening of contemporary works celebrating some of ballet’s most influential choreographers in The Rule Breakers in March 2024. This dynamic programme features William Forsythe’s ground-breaking work, In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, Andonis Foniadakis’ thrilling world premiere ballet and HKB’s Choreographer-in-Residence Hu Song Wei Ricky’s ravishing The Last Song.
One of 2024’s most anticipated events in international ballet is the world premiere of a dazzling new Swan Lake from San Francisco Ballet Resident Choreographer Yuri Possokhov. An enchanting tale of love overcoming evil, this beloved classical ballet has delighted generations of ballet fans and is reimagined with Possokhov’s trademark energy and sophisticated choreography. We’re also thrilled to have The Royal Ballet’s charismatic principal dancer Matthew Ball joining HKB on this fabulous stage.
