The Gatsby Christmas Soiree was the theme of the Hong Kong Ballet Ball, for which the Grand Hyatt’s ballroom was transformed to recall a speakeasy in the US during the Roaring Twenties. The theme tied in with the dance company’s forthcoming production, The Great Gatsby, artistic director Septime Webre’s reimagining of F Scott Fitzgerald’s tale of abundant wealth, excess and dark obsession.

The evening started with cocktails in the foyer, which was busy with revellers glittering in lavishly embellished ensembles, Anne Wang-Liu, Mira Yeh and Eleanor Lam among them. Eventually the ballroom doors opened and the guests made their way inside, where a live jazz band maintained the ’20s mood. Hong Kong Ballet Ball co-chairs Daisy Ho and Mira Yeh made brief welcoming addresses. They drew attention to the Ballet for All initiative, under which Balmain, Cartier and Jimmy Choo designed three Christmas trees donated by Hong Kong Land.

The trees were auctioned off to raise funds for the ballet company’s Special Relaxed Performances, programmes customised for special needs audiences with autism or intellectual disabilities and their caregivers. The evening included a range of entertainment, including a series of ballet performances that previewed the coming production of The Great Gatsby, which will debut in February.