Hong Kong Ballet unveils dazzling stage lineup

Hotpot, neon lights, kung fu cinema, and high fashion are not the ingredients one would typically associate with classical ballet. Yet, the Hong Kong Ballet is blending them into an exuberant celebration of the city's cultural identity with the launch of its 2026/27 season, aptly titled Hong Kong Bling.

Drawing inspiration from Hong Kong's vibrant 1970s heyday, when film, music and fashion flourished with global influence, the new season is set to bring an eclectic mix of world premieres, award-winning productions and community initiatives that reflect both the city's rich heritage and its contemporary creative energy.

The program was unveiled on June 23. Artistic director Septime Webre describes the upcoming season as a theatrical hotpot, where diverse cultural influences come together to create something greater than the sum of their parts.

"Hotpot is more than a meal; it is a living expression of togetherness and community," Webre says.

"Generations of family and friends have transformed individual ingredients into something greater and richer, enjoyed around the table together."

He likened the company's new season to that communal dining experience, combining the glamour of 1970s Hong Kong — from glitzy disco culture and neon-lit streets to martial arts films and bold fashion — into "something memorable and meaningful".

The centerpiece of the season is an ambitious trio of productions exploring identity, transformation and human resilience.

Among them is the world premiere of Bruce Lee: Hong Kong Legend, created and directed by Webre. The large-scale production celebrates the martial arts icon through ballet, blending classical dance with action choreography, an original score that fuses orchestral music with Chinese instruments and contemporary pop, and designs by Oscar-winning art director Tim Yip.

Another major premiere, Dunhuang: In Search of Light, reunites choreographer Hu Song Wei Ricky and Mai Jingwen. Inspired by the novel Siddhartha by German-born Swiss writer Hermann Hesse, who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1946, and the ancient grottoes in Dunhuang, the production follows a young man's spiritual journey toward enlightenment, combining classical ballet with immersive visual storytelling. It also marks the Hong Kong Ballet's first collaboration with the Dunhuang Academy in Gansu province.

Another highlight is Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon, choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. The ballet examines the complicated life and legacy of the designer whose influence reshaped the fashion world.

Classical favorites also remain firmly on the menu.

Audiences can look forward to the return of The Nutcracker, Webre's interpretation of the classic, as well as the swashbuckling Le Corsaire: The Pirate Hunter!, known for its athletic choreography and spectacular stagecraft.

Families are also catered for through Summer Fling, an interactive studio event featuring excerpts from the company's repertoire, opportunities to meet dancers and ballet workshops for children.

Beyond the stage, the Hong Kong Ballet continues to strengthen its role as one of the city's cultural ambassadors. Its internationally acclaimed Romeo + Juliet, set in 1960s Hong Kong, will tour Beijing in August and Chengdu, Sichuan province, in September, following performances in New York, London and Seoul.

Webre highlights the company's expanding community outreach, including the growth of the Hong Kong Academy of Ballet, its "Dancing to Hong Kong's Heartbeat" initiative and "Silver Ballet" programs designed for seniors. More pop-up performances and collaborations across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area are planned for 2027.

"Just as we gather together to share meals, we can gather at the theater and in the community to experience creativity and artistry that reflects the Hong Kong Ballet today," Webre says.

"It's rooted in tradition yet boldly contemporary, stylish and deeply connected to both the city and the world."