Alexander Ekman’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Ballett Dortmund
Two visionary Swedish creators unite to present a powerful performance deeply rooted in their cultural heritage. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is more than a visually stunning dance spectacle—it stands as their signature masterpiece and marks the Hong Kong debut of their full-length dance production.
A fever dream of startling splendour—dive into the surreal, electrifying world of Alexander Ekman
A sleeping man is woken by an alarm, only to be dragged into solstice festivities by a large group of dancers, followed by a series of bizarre, dreamlike scenes...
In Sweden, where winters are long and dark, the summer solstice at the end of June—the longest day of the year—has been celebrated as a festival since ancient times. Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman borrows the title of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to revisit these traditions, creating his own bold interpretation of the Nordic midsummer night.
There are no Shakespearen fairies or magic potions. What Ekman envisions is a visually striking, high-energy gala that celebrates, smashes and subverts the traditional Midsummer rituals. He transforms the stage into a stunning golden wheat field covered by giant bales of hay. Dancers fling the hay and straw around in an athletic frenzy, heightening the joyous, festive spirit. Wearing garlands of flowers, revellers dance around the maypole, enjoy a drunken feast and slip into a steamy, surreal world where you can no longer tell dream from reality.
Ballett Dortmund, one of Germany’s most innovative dance companies, delivers stellar performances of this work across international stages including the Salzburg Festival. Its passionate dancers are accompanied by musicians of the Dortmunder Philharmoniker, which plays the Scandinavian folklore-inspired scores. Famous Swedish singer composer Anna von Hausswolff wanders on the stage like a narrator, and lends her ethereal voice and soul to the performance. Together, the artists fully immerse themselves—and the audience—in the surreal world conjured up by Ekman.
Advance Bookings will start at 10am on 7 October 2026
About the creators
Alexander Ekman is known for pushing the boundaries of ballet with his iconoclastic vision and innovative set designs. Born in Sweden in 1984, Ekman joined the Royal Swedish Ballet at age 16 and transitioned to full-time choreography by 22. He has created works for more than 40 top global companies including the Paris Opera Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater, and is now an internationally sought-after choreographer. He also famously collaborated with the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games as head choreographer and co-director for its opening ceremony.
Ekman’s sarcastic and subversive style shines through in some of his iconic productions: flooding the stage with 5,000 litres of water for A Swan Lake and dropping 40,000 green balls in PLAY, noting: “We need to be reminded to play, to dance, and to maybe not take life too seriously.”
Swedish-born Mikael Karlsson is a distinguished composer who specialises in scores across dance, opera and orchestral concerts, even video games and fashion shows. His style masterfully blends classical orchestral traditions with cutting-edge live electronics, creating lush, highly immersive soundscapes. Ekman regularly pairs movement directly with Karlsson’s bold compositions—treating music not as background accompaniment, but as an essential narrative partner that shapes the emotional world and rhythm of his groundbreaking stage designs.
Remarks
• This production features extensive use of hay. Airborne hay particles may be present in the auditorium and could cause irritation or discomfort to individuals with respiratory conditions.
• This production contains adult content, smoking scenes, loud sound, strong lighting and smoke effects
• Recommended for ages 12 and above
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