Romeo and Juliet find new life in 1960s Hong Kong

The familiar music of Sergei Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet opened Hong Kong Ballet's performances at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Aug 29 and 30, but the curtain rose not on Renaissance Italy.

Instead, audiences were transported to 1960s Hong Kong, where neon-lit streets, bustling shops and the atmosphere of classic Hong Kong cinema provided a striking new setting for Shakespeare's timeless tragedy.

Created by Hong Kong Ballet's artistic director Septime Webre, Romeo + Juliet reimagines the star-crossed lovers as the children of two powerful rival families in Hong Kong. The production blends classical ballet with distinctly local cultural elements, from old Hong Kong streets and mahjong scenes to bamboo scaffolding and martial arts.

International ballet star Chun Wai Chan appeared as guest principal dancer in the role of Romeo, bringing youthful energy and athleticism to the character with his soaring jumps and assured turns. He was partnered by Hong Kong Ballet principal dancer Ye Feifei as Juliet.

One of the production's most distinctive features is its fusion of ballet and kung fu. In this Hong Kong reimagining, Friar Laurence is transformed into Romeo's kung fu master, bringing Hong Kong's celebrated martial arts tradition into the ballet.

The clashes between the two rival families are transformed into dynamic fight scenes combining kicks, punches and staves with the rhythm and precision of dance.

The East and the West also meet in the production's lavish visual world. At a society ball decorated with golden dragons, traditional Chinese garments appear alongside Western suits and dresses. More than 280 costumes and 21 sets create a colorful journey through old Hong Kong, from lively streets to elegant family homes.

The famous balcony pas de deux is set in a Chinese-style courtyard framed by Hong Kong's distinctive bamboo scaffolding. Through fluid lifts, turns and throws, Romeo and Juliet's youthful romance unfolds against a setting that gives the familiar scene a distinctly local character.

Following its Beijing performances, Romeo + Juliet will travel to Chengdu, Sichuan province, for performances on Sept 11 and 12.