Hong Kong Ballet to become first resident company at WestK Performing Arts Centre

The agreement between WestK Performing Arts and Hong Kong Ballet establishes what the organisations describe as Hong Kong’s first long-term residency between a professional dance company and a major performing arts venue.

The partnership will encompass artistic development, international exchange, education, talent cultivation and public engagement. It is also intended to explore new commercial opportunities for Hong Kong-created cultural work and strengthen the city’s performing arts infrastructure.

Hong Kong Ballet will contribute regularly to the centre’s opening season and subsequent artistic programmes. Its first major production at the venue will be the world premiere of Bruce Lee: Hong Kong Legend, an original ballet inspired by the life and international cultural legacy of Bruce Lee.

The production is scheduled to open between September and October 2027 and is being positioned as an example of how the new centre can help Hong Kong-originated work reach both domestic and international audiences.

Jat Sew-tong, Chairman of the Performing Arts Committee of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, said, ‘This landmark partnership marks a significant milestone in the development of Hong Kong’s performing arts sector.’

He said the residency would advance artistic excellence, nurture talent, deepen audience engagement and contribute to the growth of Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries.

The collaboration is also expected to extend beyond performances. WestK Performing Arts and Hong Kong Ballet plan to develop educational, community and public engagement initiatives, alongside interdisciplinary projects spanning dance, theatre, music and technology.

Daisy Ho, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Hong Kong Ballet, said, ‘A home is more than a place where we perform. It is where artists can create and experiment, where young talent can grow, and where lasting connections with the community can be built.’

She added that the permanent base would allow the company to think more ambitiously about its role in the cultural life of Hong Kong and create new opportunities for artistic innovation, collaboration and audience development.

Founded in 1979, Hong Kong Ballet comprises 50 dancers recruited internationally. Alongside its main-stage repertoire and overseas touring, the company operates the Hong Kong Academy of Ballet and delivers community programmes intended to broaden access to dance.

The new residency will give the company access to dedicated performance, creation and rehearsal infrastructure within WestK Performing Arts Centre. The agreement is intended to provide greater continuity for developing new work while helping Hong Kong Ballet build relationships with artists, audiences and international cultural organisations.

Scheduled to open in 2027, WestK Performing Arts Centre will be Hong Kong’s first purpose-built venue dedicated to the development of dance and theatre. Its facilities will include a 1,450-seat Grand Theatre, a 600-seat Medium Theatre, a 270-seat Studio Theatre, a flexible space known as The Hall, and a dedicated Dancehouse with rehearsal facilities.

Together with the Xiqu Centre and Freespace, the venue will form part of the proposed WestK Theatre Hub, expanding the district’s capacity to host local, regional and international performing arts activity.