Embark on a luminous voyage of self-reflection

From the brilliant team behind The Butterfly Lovers comes an epic new ballet inspired by Dunhuang’s majestic sand dunes and ancient Silk Road cave temples where cultures met and flourished and Hermann Hesse’s iconic novel ‘Siddhartha’. In Dunhuang: In Search of Light, a young man searches for enlightenment guided by Feitian (Flying Apsaras) celestial beings along the way. Powerful classical ballet with immersive visuals and living frescoes 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.

Creative Team

Choreography and Libretto: Hu Song Wei Ricky, Mai Jingwen
Music: Tian Mi
(Compose and Orchestrate Team: Tian Mi, Luo Geng, Zhang Qun, Zhou Chuhang, Bao Uner)
Set Design: Jonathan Wong
Costume Design: Dieuweke Van Reij
Video Design: Dan Fong
Lighting Design: Yeung Tsz Yan
Sound Design: Roy Cheung
Live Music: Hong Kong Sinfonietta
(with musicians from the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble)
Conductor: Vivian Ip

Special thanks to Ms Leonie Ki, Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble founder, for her full support and valuable advice.

Special thanks to Ms Li Li, Director of Dunhuang Dance Stage Arts Practice Research Centre, Lanzhou University of Arts and Science,
for academic and artistic advise on Dunhuang dance.

*Commissioned by GBA International Theatre Festival

Dunhuang: In Search of Light

Tickets are now available at URBTIX

The performance lasts approximately 1 hour 50 minutes, including an intermission.

Click here to discover more about the programme.

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