Hong Kong Dance Company unveils 2024/25 'Moving Beyond Tradition' season theme

The Hong Kong Dance Company (HKDance) held a press conference today (June 18) to announce the details of its 2024/25 season and cultural exchange plans, alongside establishing a new arts education space in East Hong Kong.

Attendees included Dr. Frankie Yeung, BBS, MH, JP, Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council; Mr. Chris Yip, Chairman of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department Venue Partnership Scheme Committee; Mr. Tsang Kee-kung, MH, chairman of HKDance; Mr. Yang Yuntao, Artistic Director of HKDance; Ms. Meggy Cheng, Executive Director of HKDance; renowned violinist Ms. Yao Jue, SBS, JP; new media artist Mr. Chris Cheung; composer Mr. Choi Sai-ho; celebrated art director Man Lim Chung; and Ms. Karen Chan, founder of the fashion brand Sparkle by Karen Chan.

The 2024/25 season is themed "Moving Beyond Tradition," blending traditional Chinese culture with creative and artistic technologies to showcase contemporary dance aesthetics and vitality.

Highlights include a large-scale dance poem, "After Snowfall," inspired by Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, featuring violinist Yao Jue and new media artist Chris Cheung.

Another highlight is "A Dance of Drumming Pulses," which showcases traditional drum dances from various Chinese ethnic minorities, using rhythm to convey cultural characteristics and inspire cultural inheritance.

In addition, the season will feature "Storm Clouds," a dance drama based on Ma Wing-shing's iconic martial arts comic series, incorporating the latest multimedia projection technology and innovative stage design.

The Company will also present "The Ballad of Mulan," a poetic performance highlighting traditional Chinese virtues, and "The Kids in Rainbow Jerseys," a family-friendly musical dance drama sponsored by Henderson Land Group, featuring over 400 dancers portraying athletes.

HKDance also announced the establishment of a new arts education space in East Hong Kong, supported by community education partner Henderson Land Group.

Scheduled to open in September 2024, this space aims to bring Chinese dance to the community, continuing the unique "learning, performing, appreciation" educational philosophy for children and youth.

The Company will also launch the "H·Dance Henderson Community Education Fund" to provide scholarships for talented and aspiring young dancers, offering professional training and performance opportunities.

At the press conference, Tsang expressed gratitude for the Company's efforts and audience support over the past year and outlined future development plans.

"For over forty years, the Hong Kong Dance Company has been dedicated to promoting Chinese dance with contemporary artistic creativity and Hong Kong characteristics. The past year has yielded remarkable results thanks to collective efforts. Moving forward, we will continue to innovate while upholding traditions, advancing dance education and arts technology, and actively contributing to Hong Kong's development as a hub for Chinese cultural promotion," said Tsang.

Yang emphasized the Company's commitment to tradition and innovation.

"In our learning, we uphold inheritance; in our innovation, we advance steadily. We strive to present contemporary aesthetics through the dancers' bodies, allowing audiences to experience the grandeur of dance," said Yang.