Standing tall as he leans against a barre in one of the practice rooms at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Wang Xin Peng exudes passion and creativity when he speaks. He talks fervently about his desire and need to have dance in his life and how he made the decision, almost two years ago, to create a ballet around the infamous Dream of the Red Chamber. As his special tenth anniversary project for his time at Ballet Dortmund in Germany, the ballet was put together using a mixture of the best that the east and west have to offer.

Wang’s Dream of the Red Chamber ballet features a Chinese story, music by award-winning British composer Michael Nyman, beautifully intricate costumes from Beijing, lighting and stage management from Europe and ballerinas from far and wide. It was not only fitting for the ballet to arrive in Hong Kong, a true melting pot of east meets west, but it was also fitting for Wang to be directing and choreographing the show.

Having spent most of his life in China and having discovered his love and passion for dance at an art school, he moved his life to Germany to work for Ballet Dortmund and has been there for the last eleven years. Now into his second directorship with the company, he has come to adopt Germany as his home. “What I love about Germany is that the way things work there allow for me to passionately follow my creativity and artistry,” says Wang.

In the video above, Wang actively answers, using his hands, motions and posture, to explain to me the story of his life, his love and unrelenting desire for dance and the creative input required to create such a thrilling ballet.

Dream of the Red Chamber Presented by Hong Kong Ballet
Date: October 25-27, 2013 and November 1-3, 2013
Venue: Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre