KUALA LUMPUR, 5 Nov 2025:
Ballet Theatre Malaysia (BTM) will host its Grand Opening Ceremony on Nov 29, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Malaysian ballet.
Founded in 2020 as the nation’s first professional ballet company, BTM returns after a three-year period of restructuring and rebuilding with a renewed artistic team, a newly established independent dance company, and a dedicated theatre, poised to reinvigorate Malaysia’s ballet landscape with fresh energy and vision.
Since its inception, BTM has upheld a clear mission to create sustainable career pathways for local dancers, allowing Malaysian talents to thrive on home soil while gaining opportunities to perform on international stages.
Building on this foundation, the company now embarks on a new chapter, themed “Planting the Seed of Dance,” which symbolises hope, growth, and the promise of a flourishing artistic future here at home.
In this next phase, BTM will establish an international-standard ensemble, bringing together full-time dancers from around the world to collaborate with Malaysian artists in an environment that celebrates ballet at its finest.
At the same time, the newly launched Scholar Programme will provide a structured development pathway for young dancers in Malaysia — equipping them with world-class training, mentorship, and performance opportunities that prepare them for professional careers in ballet and beyond.
BTM also seeks to infuse Malaysia’s rich multicultural heritage into its creative productions, bringing new life and local spirit to the ballet tradition, and reinterpreting it for contemporary audiences.
BTM’s relaunch will feature the participation of two world-renowned ballet figures: internationally acclaimed choreographer Xin Peng Wang and world prima ballerina Alina Cojocaru, who will join the company to inaugurate a new chapter of ballet in Malaysia.
Xin Peng Wang is an internationally celebrated choreographer originally from China. A former member of the National Ballet of China, he later served as Artistic Director of the Dortmund Ballet at the Dortmund Opera House in Germany for over 22 years.
Throughout his career, he has created more than sixty original works — including Faust, Dream of the Red Chamber, and The Divine Comedy — acclaimed for their rich literary depth, musical sensitivity, and cultural resonance. He has also collaborated with celebrated filmmaker Zhang Yimou on Raise the Red Lantern.
In 2014, Wang founded the NRW Junior Ballet in Germany, dedicated to nurturing young dancers toward international careers. His passion for artistic education and dance innovation aligns perfectly with BTM’s vision.
On Nov 19, he will serve as a guest adjudicator for BTM’s Company Dancer and Scholars’ Audition, offering Malaysian dancers a rare opportunity to engage directly with a world-class artist.
Born in Bucharest, Alina Cojocaru trained in Kyiv and later at The Royal Ballet School in London. She became a Principal Dancer with The Royal Ballet in 2001 before joining the English National Ballet as Lead Principal.
Renowned for her artistry, grace, and technical brilliance, Cojocaru has performed on the world’s most prestigious stages and is widely regarded as one of the most influential ballerinas of her generation.
In 2024, she premiered her original full-length ballet La Strada at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London, further solidifying her place as a visionary artist in the global ballet world.
Cojocaru will serve as a guest judge for BTM’s auditions and will personally conduct exclusive masterclasses. She will also grace BTM’s Grand Opening on November 29 as its Guest of Honour.
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