Born in Hong Kong, Lai Nok Sze Vanessa trained at Le Studio Ballet before continuing at The Harid Conservatory on scholarship in 2010. She joined Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) as an Apprentice in 2013, became a Corps de Ballet member in 2014 and was named Coryphée in 2019. She joined the National Ballet of Finland in 2020 and then returned to HKB in 2023. 

With HKB, Lai has danced featured roles like Egyptian Doll in Terence Kohler’s The Nutcracker, Lead Pirate Woman in Anna-Marie Holmes’ Le Corsaire, Caterpillar in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), Myrtle Wilson in Webre’s The Great Gatsby, Bolero in Nina Ananiashvili’s Don Quixote, White Cat in Cynthia Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty and Cat in Pär Isberg’s Pinocchio and has performed in John Meehan's Swan Lake, Ronald Hynd's Coppélia, Val Caniparoli's Lady of the Camellias, Natalia Conus’ Swan Lake Act III, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Jiří Kylián's Petite Mort, Christopher Wheeldon’s Rush, Alexei Ratmansky’s Le Carnaval des Animaux, Jorma Elo's Shape of Glow, Edwaard Liang’s Sacred Thread, Trey McIntyre’s A Day in the Life, Justin Peck’s Year of the Rabbit, Fei Bo’s Shenren Chang and Yuh Egami and Hu Song Wei Ricky’s The Rite of Spring.

At National Ballet of Finland, her notable roles included Rosalinda in John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, Mrs Lanyon in Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll & Hyde,  Odalesques in Anna-Marie Holmes’ Le Corsaire as well as performing in Lucas Jervies’s Spartacus and  Tamara Rojo’s Raymonda, to name a few.

Among Lai’s accolades are a Rudolf Nureyev Education Fellowship and scholarship from the Ruth Nelson Krafts Awards Foundation in 2012 and placing Top 12 in Youth America Grand Prix in 2010.

Dancer Q&A 
 

1. What was the first ballet you ever performed?

The first ballet I ever danced was The Nutcraker the kids version when I was a kid also with Hong Kong Ballet.

2. Whats is the most challenging ballet you have danced and what made it' so challenging?

The most challenging ballet I have danced was The Great Gatsby, dancing Myrtle, because not only requires the skills of ballet but also needed skills of acting. It was very new to me.

3. Whats is the attribute you most like about yourself?

My favorite attribute about myself is that I'm outgoing, I could have a conversation with anyone.

4. What is the place where you feel most youself?

I feel the most myself in Florida and at beaches.

5. What is your favourite food?

I love to eat cow's tongue, foie gras, and anything that is sugary.

6. What is your dressing style?

I like to dress myself in shorts, crop tops and lots of bling blings.

7. What are your hobbies?

My hobbies are pole dancing, aerial yoga, arts crafts, and to be a mermaid.

8. If you can have a super power, what could it be?

If I was to have any superpower I would want to have either wings to fly or have a mermaid tail.