Co-produced with
Embark on a luminous voyage of self-reflection
From the brilliant team that brought the runaway-hit The Butterfly Lovers comes an epic new ballet inspired by Dunhuang sand dunes, Silk Road cave temples where cultures met and flourished and Hermann Hesse’s iconic 1922 novel ‘Siddhartha’. Dunhuang: In Search of Light tells the story of a young man and his search for enlightenment, as he learns about temptation, love, lust and a path toward inner light and growth, guided by several Feitian (Flying Apsaras), celestial beings symbolising grace and movement, along the way. Powerful classical ballet is fused with immersive, cutting-edge visuals and living frescoes that celebrate personal awakening, wisdom and compassion.
HKB Choreographer-in-Residence Hu Song Wei Ricky and co-choreographer and librettist Mai Jingwen join forces with award-winning composer Tian Mi (The Butterfly Lovers), acclaimed costume designer Dieuweke Van Reij (Frida), visionary set designer Jonathan Wong and lighting designer Yeung Tsz Yan (The Impossible Trial) and prolific digital visual designer Dan Fong. Step into Dunhuang, where every grain of sand tells a story, and true awakening does not come from escaping the world but from entering it fully with love, courage and sensitivity.
In a landmark collaboration, HKB partners for the first time with the Dunhuang Academy, bringing the richness and authenticity of Dunhuang’s cultural heritage to the stage, and deepening the production’s artistic and historical resonance.
Commissioned by GBA International Theatre Festival
