FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
China Minsheng Bank Hong Kong Branch
Proudly PresentsThe Sleeping Beauty
Enchants Audiences with Ten Acclaimed Performances
[Hong Kong — 18 June 2026] During 29 May – 7 June, Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) garnered critical acclaim and enthusiastic audience praise with 10 performances of China Minsheng Bank Hong Kong Branch Proudly Presents The Sleeping Beauty at Hong Kong Cultural Centre's Grand Theatre, bringing the 2025/26 season to a triumphant close with renowned international guest artists and HKB's exceptional dancers. Over 13,000 audience members were enchanted by Vladimir Malakhov's new production of The Sleeping Beauty (after Marius Petipa), set to Tchaikovsky's iconic score performed live by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Robert Reimer, with 2026 Petipa Award recipient Jordi Roig's exquisite new sets and costumes.
The classical fairytale ballet featured The Australian Ballet Principal Artist Davi Ramos, Dutch National Ballet Principal Dancer Maia Makhateli, National Ballet of Canada Principal Dancer Tirion Law and Bolshoi Ballet Principal Dancer Elizaveta Kokoreva, who all took the stage to thunderous applause. HKB dancers Ye Feifei, Ryo Kato, Kim Eunsil, Albert Gordon, Jeremy Chan, Wang Qingxin, Garry Corpuz, Yang Ruiqi, Gouta Seki and Yonen Takano shone brilliantly in leading and featured roles, captivating audiences with their exceptional artistry and technical mastery. Malakhov also made a special appearance as the wicked fairy Carabosse in select performances, delighting audiences with his magnetic stage presence. On opening night, set and costume designer Roig received the prestigious Petipa Award from Petipa Heritage Foundation for his outstanding contributions to the visual language of ballet.
HKB Chairman Daisy Ho, BBS shared her heartfelt appreciation with the dancers, ‘You are always surprising everyone. It is an excellent production, and you are only getting better and better. Being able to invite international guest dancers to perform together with our dancers is truly special, and I don’t think I have seen a full house like this before. It has been a wonderful year, and all of you have worked really hard.’
‘Led by a splendidly assured Princess Aurora from prima ballerina Ye Feifei, with charismatic guest artist Davi Ramos as her Prince, the whole company danced with impressive sharpness, precision and attack.’ (South China Morning Post)
‘How rewarding it was to see two such outstanding performances of Aurora last weekend. It was a stellar and unforgettable performance.’ (EJ Insight, Hong Kong Economic Journal)
The grand staging of the classical ballet The Sleeping Beauty welcomed distinguished guests of Title Sponsor China Minsheng Bank Hong Kong Branch for an evening of timeless beauty. Representatives from China Minsheng Bank Hong Kong Branch in attendance included CEO Qu Ting, Deputy CEO Jiang Wei and Zhong Hongyu, and Business Director Liu Hongxia, were among the guests. HKB sponsors, partners and donors were present like Chinachem Group’s Corporate Communications Director Amy Wu and Associate Director Yen Lee, Sweetdream Director Kevin Chan and his wife, Multi-Property General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong and W Hong Kong Anas Bencheqroun, Perrier-Jouët – Pernod Ricard Vice President of Marketing – China Management Entity Louis Cheng and donor Justin D'Agostino, MH. Also attending were HKB Board of Governors Chairman Daisy Ho, Vice-chairman Linda Fung, Board members Deirdre Fu Tcheng, Cherry Tse Ling Kit-ching, GBS, JP and Evonne Tsui, and HKB Development Committee Co-chairman Mira Yeh and Development Committee member Maya Lin. HKB sincerely thanks its Title Sponsor, Board members, sponsors, partners and audiences whose unwavering support and enthusiasm made The Sleeping Beauty truly enchanting.
Additionally, generous donations to HKB’s Accessibility Fund, Bloomberg and Dr Wayne Wu Charitable Foundation Ltd made it possible for 182 underprivileged individuals and families from ChickenSoup Foundation, Musical Chaos Foundation, Po Leung Kuk and Society for Community Organization to experience The Sleeping Beauty’s magical world.
Beyond the Stage
On 25 May, HKB was honoured to host Awakening the Dream: An Afternoon with The Sleeping Beauty, an exclusive meet and greet with its event partner OZONE at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. This enchanting afternoon brought ballet fans face-to-face with legendary choreographer Malakhov and world-renowned guest artists together with HKB Artistic Director Webre and conductor Reimer. Sponsors, guests, Friends of HKB and supporters enjoyed an inspiring afternoon of conversations and shared passion for ballet.
Hotel partner The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong produced a special video featuring National Ballet of Canada Principal and former HKB dancer Tirion Law, capturing the moment when the city’s bustle softens into stillness and a slumbering beauty awakens. Echoing a theme of The Sleeping Beauty, the video highlights The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong’s support for HKB and Malakhov’s newest production.
To further engage audiences, The Sleeping Beauty: From Page to Stage exhibition at Hong Kong Cultural Centre traced how this classic fairytale has been creatively expressed throughout the centuries, from its creation by master choreographer Petipa and renowned composer Tchaikovsky to Malakhov's compelling contemporary reimagining that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
HKB also collaborated with Sweetdream on the ‘Capture The Sleeping Beauty’ photo contest, inviting visitors to step into an enchanted world and capture their most creative sleeping pose for a chance to win a prize.
After the performances, the magic continued with seven autograph sessions where eager fans met the acclaimed international guest artists and HKB dancers, received autographs and took photos together.
Education and Community Engagement
Over the past few weeks, HKB held a series of The Sleeping Beauty events before the show. An interactive parent-child ballet workshop welcomed over 40 families to design their own magic wands and explore the ballet's story together. Two engaging pre-performance talks welcomed over 300 guests and featured special appearances by guest artists Tirion Law and Davi Ramos, and 100+ people attended Ballet 360° at Hong Kong Cultural Centre for an exclusive preview of the production.
On 29 May, more than 660 students and teachers including hearing-impaired participants and a sign language interpreter, enjoyed School Culture Day at Hong Kong Cultural Centre, which featured a vibrant selection from The Sleeping Beauty dress rehearsal. Introduced by Hong Kong Ballet dancer, the participants learned about expressive ballet mime and how movement conveys plot and emotions in ballet.
Silver Ballet Ambassador Training Camp
Sponsored by Chinachem Group, from 1–6 June, 60 Silver Ballet alumni ages 55–85 reunited as Silver Ballet Ambassadors for an intensive camp with The Sleeping Beauty workshops, arts and crafts, dance practice and performance viewing, culminating in a graceful fairytale‑inspired dance demonstration for over 100 guests. Guests included HKB Executive Director Heidi Lee, Chinachem Group Director of Corporate Communications Amy Wu and Associate Director of Corporate Communications Yen Lee. Star Silver Ballet Ambassador Lam Chiu Ying danced with his wife and reflected on his Silver Ballet journey.
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Hong Kong Ballet
China Minsheng Bank Hong Kong Branch Proudly Presents: The Sleeping Beauty
29.5.2026 (Fri) 7:30pm
30.5.2026 (Sat) 2:30pm & 7:30pm
31.5.2026 (Sun) 2:30pm & 7:30pm
4.6.2026 (Thu) 7:30pm
5.6.2026 (Fri) 7:30pm
6.6.2026 (Sat) 2:30pm & 7:30pm
7.6.2026 (Sun) 2:30pm
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Creative Team
Choreography: Vladimir Malakhov (after Marius Petipa)
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Set & Costume Design: Jordi Roig
Lighting Design: Jacopo Pantani
Video Design: Enrico Pazzagli
Assistant to the Choreographer: Alessandra Pasquali
Assistant to the Set Designer: Enrique Conde Martinez
Live Orchestra: Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Robert Reimer
For further information, please contact:
Tobe To | Marketing and PR Manager | T: 2105 9716 / 9207 5426 | [email protected]
About Hong Kong Ballet
Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) is internationally recognised as a world-class institution that represents Hong Kong’s unique character. Established in 1979 and led by Artistic Director Septime Webre since 2017, HKB has a dynamic repertoire performed by 50 dancers from all over the globe.
HKB stands out as a dynamic Hong Kong cultural ambassador, sharing its unique repertoire and style with audiences in Europe, North America, Chinese Mainland 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 has won recognition both regionally and internationally. In 2024, Septime Webre’s ‘The Nutcracker – A Hong Kong Adventure’ and its community outreach activities won the Star of Outstanding Award at UNESCO’s Global Awards for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases. 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.
