HK Ballet
Stay Alive
Choreographer: Jonathan Spigner
Dancers: Luis Cabrera
Music: José González – Stay Alive
In dialogue with Writer Barbie Liu
Jonathan Spigner
Coryphée
Joined 2010
Born in South Carolina, US, Jonathan Spigner trained at the South Carolina Governor’s School of Arts and Humanities and at Académie Princesse Grace in Monte Carlo. He joined Hong Kong Ballet as a member of the Corps de Ballet in 2010 and was named Coryphée in 2014. He assumed the additional role of Pilates Instructor for the Company in 2017.
With Hong Kong Ballet, Spigner has danced featured roles including Puss in Boots in Cynthia Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty, Fritz and Spanish Doll in Terence Kohler’s The Nutcracker, Birbanto in Anna-Marie Holmes’ Le Corsaire, St Gaudins in Val Caniparoli’s Lady of the Camellias, Executed Prince in Natalie Weir’s Turandot, Young Uncle Tak in Yuri Ng’s Firecracker and Factory Boss in Yuh Egami and Hu Song Wei Ricky’s Carmen. He has also performed in John Meehan’s Swan Lake, Nina Ananiashvili’s Don Quixote, Ronald Hynd’s Coppélia, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort, Nacho Duato’s Castrati, Christopher Wheeldon’s Rush, Alexei Ratmansky’s Le Carnaval des Animaux, Jorma Elo’s Shape of Glow, Edwaard Liang’s Sacred Thread, Trey McIntyre’s A Day in the Life and Fei Bo’s Shenren Chang.
Since joining the Company, Spigner has premièred choreographic works at Hong Kong Ballet’s Choreographers’ Showcase, including BubbleGoose(2017), Passion Flower (2016), Days Gone By (2015), Wepart (2014), Overview Effect (2012) and (The Wonderful Known Tick) (2011). He also choreographed SoLo (2013). Spigner received awards from Youth America Grand Prix regional competitions in 2004, 2008 and 2009.
Luis Cabrera
Coryphée
Joined 2015
Born in Marikina, Philippines, Luis Cabrera trained at Philippine High School for the Arts. He danced with Ballet Manila and Ballet Philippines before attending The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts on scholarship, where he graduated with a diploma in Dance in 2015. Cabrera joined Hong Kong Ballet as a member of the Corps de Ballet the same year and became Coryphée in 2019.
With Hong Kong Ballet, Cabrera has danced the featured roles of Fritz and Italian Doll in Terence Kohler’s The Nutcracker and performed in John Meehan’s Swan Lake, Cynthia Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty, Nina Ananiashvili’s Don Quixote, Anna-Marie Holmes’ Le Corsaire, Terence Kohler’s The Nutcracker, Rudi van Dantzig’s Romeo and Juliet, Ronald Hynd’s Coppélia, Pär Isberg’s Pinocchio, Val Caniparoli’s Lady of the Camellias, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort and Sechs Tänze, Nacho Duato’s Castrati, Christopher Wheeldon’s Rush, Jorma Elo’s Shape of Glow, Edwaard Liang’s Sacred Thread, Justin Peck’s Year of the Rabbit, Fei Bo’s Shenren Chang and Yuh Egami and Hu Song Wei Ricky’s The Rite of Spring. He choreographed With-IN in 2017.
Prior to joining the Company, he danced in Nonoy Froilan’s restaged Giselle, Carlo Pacis’ restaged A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty and Alice Reye’s Rama Hari.
