FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

The Hong Kong Ballet Guild Continues its Festive Tradition of
Artistry and Giving at The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2025

[Hong Kong — 17 December 2025] On Sunday, 14 December 2025, Hong Kong Ballet held its signature fundraiser The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2025 at Hong Kong Cultural Centre’s Grand Theatre. Organised by The Hong Kong Ballet Guild, the Benefit began with a solemn moment of silence for those affected by the Tai Po fire and culminated in a children’s performance of Septime Webre’s popular The Nutcracker with Tchaikovsky’s iconic music.

Families and friends enjoyed watching 41 of the organising committee members’ children ages 3-11 in tailor-made costumes performing with The Nutcracker’s extravagant life-sized sets on stage. The Hong Kong Ballet Guild hopes that children who experience ballet at a young age will nurture a life-long love of the performing arts, and the Benefit gave them an early opportunity for a meaningful ballet experience.

Over 400 prominent guests turned out for an afternoon of fun and fundraising, including Benefit co-chairs Mrs Emily Lam Ho, JP, Mrs Emelda Wong Trainor, Mrs Charlotte Tsuei-Robinson, Organising Committee members Ms Jennifer Cheung, Prof Ava Kwong, Ms Maya Lin, Mrs Deirdre Fu Tcheng and more. Special guests included Ms Hsieh Lingling, Mr Kent Ho, Ms Leung Bo-chu, among others.

Proceeds from the Benefit’s live and silent auctions and the Make a Pledge campaign will go to support victims and families affected by the Tai Po fire, and HKB's Accessibility Fund and to the ‘Dancing to Hong Kong’s Heartbeat 4.0’ programme, which bring ballet to seniors and underserved families. Guests eagerly participated to help HKB continue its artistic development and share the love of ballet in the community.

During The Nutcracker’s 5th anniversary and 100th performance, ‘Dancing to Hong Kong’s Heartbeat 4.0’ will incorporate exciting new Hong Kong elements, including the iconic Star Ferry and the characters of Ocean Park’s panda twins, Jia Jia and De De. With its distinct local elements and heartwarming story set in early 20^th century Hong Kong, The Nutcracker won UNESCO’s Star of Outstanding Award and the Spirit of Culture Award at the 12th Spirit of Hong Kong Awards last year.

Organising committee co-chair Mrs Emily Lam Ho said, ‘We are truly grateful to our Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors, patrons and donors for helping us with this meaningful fundraising event. Special thanks goes to Deirdre Fu Tcheng, Artistic Director Septime Webre, Executive Director Heidi Lee and of course, the HKB dancers and HKB team. You ensure that HKB’s reputation and artistic excellence constantly exceed expectations.’

Co-chair Mrs Emelda Wong Trainor added, ‘Our tireless Benefit organising committee members have made today possible, even though their work has been mostly behind the scenes. Your steadfast support and donations help us reach more underprivileged people in our city.’

Lastly, co-chair Mrs Charlotte Tsuei-Robinson acknowledged HKB’s partners with, ‘Thank you to our auctioneer Ms Elaine C Kwok, English Media Partner Tatler Hong Kong, Chinese Media Partner VOGUE Hong Kong and Hong Kong Cultural Centre for providing such an amazing venue for us year after year.’

The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2025

Download High Resolution Photos

For further information, please contact:
Jerry Qiu | Programme & Communications Manager | T: 2105 9753 | [email protected]
Ruth Chung | Marketing and PR Manager | T: 2105 9716 | [email protected]

About The Hong Kong Ballet Guild
The Hong Kong Ballet Guild was established in April 2008 by a group of Hong Kong’s most avid ballet enthusiasts. The objectives of the Guild are to promote Hong Kong Ballet, raise its public profile and preserve its heritage. By increasing awareness of and support for ballet among diverse sectors of society through extensive community engagement programmes, the Guild hopes to achieve its dual objects of developing a wider audience for Hong Kong Ballet, and fostering a society that appreciates this art form, thus enabling Hong Kong to flourish as a global cultural hub.

About Hong Kong Ballet
Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) is recognised internationally as a world-class institution that represents Hong Kong’s unique character. Since its inception in 1979, HKB has evolved into a vibrant performing arts organisation with a dynamic repertoire, forward-thinking community engagement initiatives and an emphasis on excellence. 

Comprised of 50 dancers from all over the globe – Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and other parts of Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America, HKB has won recognition both regionally and internationally with celebrated re-stagings of the classics, neoclassical masterworks by George Balanchine and others and original ballets created for HKB and about Hong Kong. 

Additionally, HKB 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 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 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.