Meet Our Director: Yang Lei
Yang Lei, Director of Yang Lei Ballet (Zhuhai), is a respected member of the China Dancers Association and the Guangdong Dancers Association. He also serves as a council member of the Zhuhai Dancers Association and Executive Vice President of the Xiangzhou District Dancers Association in Zhuhai. In 1999, he was awarded the prestigious title of National First-Class Performer in China.
Early in his career, Yang Lei performed with the Liaoning Ballet and National Ballet of China, where he took on key roles in classical productions such as The Red Detachment of Women, Raise the Red Lantern, and Swan Lake, portraying powerful characters like Nan Batian, the Master, and the Evil Sorcerer. His technical excellence and expressive stage presence earned him widespread acclaim within the ballet community.
Since founding his school, Yang Lei has led his students to win numerous awards at top international ballet competitions. He himself has received multiple prestigious honors, including:
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2025 Outstanding Teacher Award at the 21st World Ballet Grand Prix and World Dance Competition (Tokyo, Japan)
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2024 Excellent Instructor Award at the Macao International Creative Dance Arts Festival
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2024–2025 Best Ballet Instructor Award at the PDE
Biography
In 1984, at just 11 years old, Yang Lei stood out among thousands of candidates and became one of only eight male students accepted into the Liaoning Ballet Company, one of China's top five ballet institutions. His early success continued—in 1990, he was selected to study at the Houston Ballet in the United States for three months due to his exceptional talent and academic performance.
In 1992, Yang represented China at the Paris International Ballet Competition, where he won the Special Artistic Performance Award. He was honored with the title "Virtue and Art Excellence" in 1998 alongside renowned artist Zhao Benshan.
In 1999, Yang Lei performed a solo ballet piece The Moon Reflected in Erquan Spring at the China Theatre for President Jiang Zemin, playing the role of the blind musician Abing. The performance received high praise and personal recognition from the President.
In 2001, Yang Lei joined the prestigious National Ballet of China, enriching his repertoire and artistic experience. During the 40th anniversary performance of The Red Detachment of Women in 2004, he portrayed Nan Batian once again and was cordially greeted by then-President Hu Jintao.
Driven by a passion to promote ballet education, Yang began teaching while still performing with the National Ballet. In 2007, he opened his own ballet school in Beijing. In 2008, a new opportunity brought him to the coastal city of Zhuhai, where he founded the Yang Lei Ballet (Zhuhai) Training Center, devoting himself to cultivating future generations of ballet talent.
Representative Works
The Red Detachment of Women
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The Moon Reflected in Erquan Spring
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The Butterfly Lovers
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Swan Lake
Awards & Honors
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1998 – Bronze Medal, 1st “Lotus Award” (National Dance Competition)
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1998 – Outstanding Performance Award, National Dance Drama Showcase
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1997 – First Prize, Liaoning Provincial Dance Competition
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1992 – Special Artistic Performance Award, Paris International Ballet Competition
