Yuerong Dance Troupe is the first Chinese dance club founded at the University of Hong Kong. Its founder, Yimi, recalled that when she first arrived at HKU, she realized that not only the university itself but also Hong Kong's broader higher education community lacked a dedicated Chinese dance club.
This cultural gap inspired her idea of founding a Chinese dance club. "We wanted to take a bold step forward and help more students discover the beauty of Chinese dance as an art form," she said.
In just two years, the Yuerong Dance Troupe has expanded to more than 30 members and become an artistic presence reaching multiple universities and communities across Hong Kong.
However, Yimi acknowledged that the club faced skepticism and confusion in its early days. With many students having little idea of what Chinese dance was, the club began hosting regular public workshops to let them experience its appeal firsthand.
"After just one class, many participants realized that the barriers they had imagined before simply didn't exist," explained Claire, president of the Yuerong Dance Troupe. "As long as you have an interest in Chinese culture and an appreciation for beauty, you can learn Chinese dance."
This spirit of openness and inclusivity has attracted a growing number of participants. Today, the club's members are no longer limited to HKU students, but also include peers from other universities, working professionals, and even mothers who bring their daughters to experience the rhythms of Chinese dance together.
Promoting Chinese dance in a cosmopolitan city like Hong Kong carries special significance and value. Claire noted that the city's diverse cultural landscape offers both abundant artistic inspiration and a platform for innovation.
"With residents and visitors from all over the world, Hong Kong serves as an ideal window for us to tell Hong Kong's stories and share China's stories through Chinese dance," she said.
From its humble beginnings to reaching beyond campus and into the wider community, HKU's Yuerong Dance Troupe has, in just two years, helped this traditional art take root and flourish in Hong Kong, an international city.
Today, the Yuerong Dance Troupe is using its unique artistic language to share the stories of Hong Kong and China with the world.
(Reporter: Rainy; Camerapeople: Bernhard, Yi; Editor: Yi; English editor: Darius; English translator: Zheng Xiaoyi)
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