East meets West in HK's Romeo + Juliet

Among the details that first caught his attention were the stage design, mahjong scenes and, especially, the fight sequences in which kung fu is integrated into the choreography. The prospect of learning martial arts for the role genuinely excited him.

Chan had taken some kung fu classes before and grew up watching the films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. As a Chinese dancer who has spent years working within a Western classical tradition, he says he enjoys opportunities to bring aspects of his own cultural background into his performances.

The physical language came relatively naturally. His familiarity with Chinese martial arts imagery gave him an instinctive sense of how the movements should look and feel, even as he worked to adapt them to the discipline and precision of ballet.

His partnership with Hong Kong Ballet principal dancer Ye Feifei, who plays Juliet, is another crucial part of the production.

Their collaboration began in an unexpected way. Ye and members of Hong Kong Ballet traveled to New York two months ago to rehearse with Chan, who was balancing a busy performance schedule. Despite having limited rehearsal time, he joined them and began learning the production's extensive movement material.

The collaboration has particular resonance because Chan and Ye previously worked together in Swan Lake. Much has changed since then.

"She has also matured over the years," Chan says. "She has now danced Hong Kong Ballet's Romeo +Juliet for six years and has developed an intimate understanding of Juliet that goes beyond technique."