By Maria Sascha Khan – Director of Artistic Development in SEA
Ballet Nights has always been about pushing boundaries, introducing world-class ballet to new audiences, and fostering emerging talent. Our recent trip to Kuala Lumpur marked a significant milestone; the first landing in my new role as Ballet Nights’ Director of Artistic Development in South East Asia, and a huge success for all involved. From building partnerships with key institutions to hosting an intimate performance featuring Legend of The Royal Ballet, Mara Galeazzi, this journey has set the stage for exciting new opportunities in the region.
Mara Galeazzi in Safe From Sleep, Choreographed by Marco Pelle. Photography by Clash Donerrin.
At the end of last month, Ballet Nights hosted an intimate event at the British International School in Kuala Lumpur. The exclusive event featured the legendary Mara Galeazzi, an icon of The Royal Ballet, making her Malaysian debut. Performing Safe From Sleep, a piece choreographed by Marco Pelle, it was a true highlight of the afternoon. Alongside Mara, our Ballet Nights Young Ambassador, 14-year old Sophia Ong, made her Ballet Nights Stage debut, performing the Esmeralda Variation with such beautiful artistry and control.
Having been selected back in November after a rigorous audition process that saw 40 dancers from over 20 schools across Malaysia—including from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor—compete for the prestigious title; assessed on classwork, variation coaching, choreography, and interview skills – Sophia’s talent and love of dance was abundant. Championing young dancers is at the heart of Ballet Nights, and the Young Ambassador Programme aims to support emerging ballet talent in the region, giving them international exposure and opportunities, and we are so excited to support Sophia in her journey.
As part of our commitment to nurturing young dancers, we also led a Ballet Nights masterclass in Kuala Lumpur, hosted by the British International School KL. This masterclass was part of the British International School’s ongoing initiative to develop dance education, including their efforts to introduce GCSE Dance into their curriculum. It was inspiring to work with young dancers eager to refine their skills and develop their artistry.
Sophia Ong, Ballet Nights Young Ambassador, performing the Esmeralda Variation. Photography by Clash Donerrin.
The event was more than just a performance, but also an opportunity to engage with the local arts community. A panel discussion with Mara Galeazzi, Sophia Ong, Kenny Shim and myself explored the state of ballet, the arts landscape in Malaysia, and how to bring world-class ballet to new audiences, with an interactive Q&A session and an artist meet-and-greet. The energy in the room was electric that was both exciting and insightful. It was an honour that the event was attended by several esteemed guests, including Ambassador Rafael Daerr, the EU Ambassador to Malaysia; Eliana Salvi, Cultural Officer of the Italian Embassy; Sunny Chan, President of the Dance Society of Malaysia; and other influential figures in the Malaysian dance scene.
We are incredibly grateful to our supporters who helped make this event possible: Melbourne Capital Group, The Italian Embassy, Mandarin Oriental KL, British International School, and International Ballet Plt. However, our visit to Kuala Lumpur was not just about a single performance—it was about laying the foundation for a long-term presence in Southeast Asia. We are proud to have established key partnerships that will support the continued growth of ballet in the region; including a collaboration with Taylor’s University, the first university in Malaysia to offer a BA in Performing Arts. Their support was invaluable, and the partnership is particularly meaningful as their program, just over a year old, marks a historic moment for dance education in the region.
In addition, we formed a partnership with WWF Malaysia, with the ambition of using the arts to raise awareness of endangered wildlife. This unique collaboration will explore the intersection of dance and conservation, demonstrating how the arts can be a powerful tool for advocacy. Such partnerships ensure that this is just the beginning of an exciting Ballet Nights journey in the region.
From Left to Right: Maria Sacha Khan; Mara Galeazzi; Sophia Ong; Kenny Shim in a panel discussion and Q&A.
“Landing our first Ballet Nights initiative in Malaysia has been a wonderful start to what we hope will be an ongoing presence in the region. Director of Artistic Development in SEA, Maria Sacha Khan, has been working tirelessly to achieve new outcomes that are hard to find anywhere nearby for these young dancers and in having a legend of the Royal Ballet such as Mara Galleazzi perform up close we hope will inspire the young dancers to see themselves as a future for dance” – Jamiel Devernay-Laurence
Our journey in Kuala Lumpur was just the beginning. Ballet Nights is dedicated to continuing its work in Southeast Asia, building on the incredible momentum from this trip. With new partnerships, an inspiring young ambassador, and a growing audience, we look forward to bringing more world-class ballet to Malaysia and beyond.
Stay tuned for exciting updates as we continue this journey!
