Hong Kong Dance Company 2017-18 Season Opens
By: BWW News Desk Apr. 24, 2017
In the spirit of the season, Artistic Director Yang Yuntao hopes to take the audience on a journey of discovery by delving deep into the subject of love and social norm. Through his female protagonists, Yang poses questions about love from a modern perspective and challenges social expectations.
The season opens with the return of the critically acclaimed dance drama L'Amour Immortel, an adaptation of Hong Kong's classic movie A Chinese Ghost Story directed by Tsui Hark. The proud recipient of three Hong Kong Dance Awards 2016, the story chronicles the forbidden love between a beautiful, bewitching ghost and an honourable scholar. Gripping and poignant, L'Amour Immortel celebrates the beauty of humanity, and is sure to thrill audiences with this new interpretation.
Adding to its line of independent, strong female characters, HKDC puts a modern twist on one of China's oldest folklores Lady White of West Lake. Retelling the love story between the spirit of a white snake and a kind-hearted scholar, their love is put to the ultimate test of faith and courage. HKDC reinvents the timeless romance in an ingenious fusion of craftsmanship, music and passion.
Remembered for its laugh-out-loud moments, HKDC's Children's and Youth Troupes is bringing back their sold-out family dance drama Dim Sum Adventures @ Lung Fung Teahouse 2.0. The show takes an honest look at the waning teahouse culture that dominated generations of Hongkongers.
Treading the intricate balance between stillness and movement, Vipassana is an uplifting performance that fuses the calming sounds of the chakras and live improvised music. In contrast, Tale of Three Cities presents an exciting lineup of award-winning choreographers from all over Asia, including Bulareyaung Pagarlava (Taiwan), Han Hyo-lim (South Korea) and Xie Yin (Hong Kong).
As well as presenting unforgettable productions to Hong Kong audiences, HKDC also strives to bring its portfolio to those overseas. This Easter, HKDC took the award-winning dance drama The Legend of Mulan to the Southbank Centre in London, sponsored and supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, and was met with a full house. HKDC Chairman, Mr Wilson Fung says, "As we celebrate our first 36 years of dance innovation, our unified vision is to serve the city and our audiences by curating ever more memorable and versatile shows." HKDC will take L'Amour Immortel to the stages of Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center (8-9 July) and Guangzhou Opera House (15-16 July) later this year.
Hong Kong Dance Company 2017/18 Season Programmes at a Glance
Grand Dance Drama
L'Amour Immortel
Winner of three 2016 Hong Kong Dance Awards:
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer
Outstanding Set Design for Dance
Love transcends life
L'Amour Immortel is the most enduring story from the literary classic Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, written by Pu Songling three centuries ago. It chronicles the star-crossed encounter between Nie Xiaoqian, a beautiful, bewitching ghost, and good-natured scholar Ning Caichen. Nie has been coerced by a demon to prey on humans, but loses her heart to the true-hearted scholar. The lovers must traverse the shadowy underworld to defend their love and freedom. Will Nie defy the netherworld to save her love from evil forces, even at the cost of her own immortality?
Dates: 9-11 June 2017
Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre
Tickets available now at URBTIX
L'Amour Immortel Beijing tour and Guangzhou tour are accredited events celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Dates: 8-9 July 2017
Venue: Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center
Dates: 15-16 July 2017
Venue: Guangzhou Opera House
Family Dance Drama
Dim Sum Adventures @ Lung Fung Teahouse 2.0
Steaming hot buns, freshly brewed tea. We've got a table for you!
Featuring dancing teacups, saucers and dim sums, this story explores the city's yum cha culture, which has tied generations of Hongkongers together. Grandma, an excellent dim sum chef who built her own teahouse, Lung Fung, which is always full to the brim. But still, popularity can't fight rocketing rent. On its final day, Grandma's greatest wish is to sip tea and enjoy dim sum at Lung Fung with her granddaughter. Alas, the little girl is caught between tutorials and exams, leaving Grandma disappointed. Two pieces of dim sum feel sorry for Grandma, and take her granddaughter back to the high time of teahouse culture.
Dates & Venues:
28-30 July 2017
Yuen Long Theatre Auditorium
4-6 August 2017
Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium
Tickets available at URBTIX from 12 May 2017
Mindful Theatre
Vipassana
In stillness there exists clarity, beauty and serenity.
Forget the banality of everyday life and allow any feelings to arise within you, with mindful acceptance. Immerse your senses in the realm of nothingness, elevated by the sounds of the chakras and live improvised music. Vipassana is presented by HKDC Artistic Director Yang Yuntao, renowned scenographer Tsang Man-tung and award-winning composer Law Wing-fai. Striking an intricate balance between movement and stillness - liberate your mind, welcome to your spiritual awakening.
Dates: 8-10 September 2017
Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre
Tickets available at URBTIX from 30 June 2017
Grand Dance Drama
Lady White of West Lake
A love that moves heaven and earth
Lady White of West Lake is among China's oldest pieces of Intangible Cultural Heritage, as well as a modern classic that has inspired countless film adaptations. This millenary love story begins on the sacred Mount Emei, where the spirit of a white snake transforms herself into a beautiful girl, Bai, to experience the human world. Emerging at the West Lake (Hangzhou), she meets a scholar, who opens her eyes to love for the first time. But their happiness does not last long: a vindictive monk becomes entangled in their quiet life. Outraged by the ominous union between man and spirit, the monk takes it upon himself to tear them apart. The resolute Bai defends her love with dignity and courage, even if it means fighting against heaven and earth. Love is a lifetime of practice.
Dates: 24-26 November 2017
Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre
Tickets available at URBTIX from 15 September 2017
Hong Kong x Taipei x Seoul
Tale of Three Cities
Let your body speak for your soul
Bulareyaung Dance Company is the brainchild of internationally acclaimed choreographer Bulareyaung Pagarlava, originally from the Paiwan tribe of Taiwan. He started his professional career as a dancer in Cloud Gate Theatre, and has since presented his work twice with the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York.
Qaciljay
Performing spectacular dance moves, holding hands and chanting the ancient songs of Paiwan, the dancers invite the audience to discover the origins of their indigenous dance.
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Emerging choreographer Han Hyo-lim from South Korea founded the Han Dance Project after winning the Seoul International Dance Festival and Competition organised by the National Centre for Korean Traditional Performing Arts.
Furious Sea - Memory on Ube
Commemorates the victims of the 1942 Chosei Coal Mine disaster, remembered for the anguish they suffered.
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Xie Yin from the Hong Kong Dance Company is a two-time Hong Kong Dance Awards winner, renowned for her leading performances in major dance dramas.
River Dialogues
Once the Fragrant Harbour of the Orient, we celebrate its rich soil that has nurtured generations of people, and an ongoing dream that inspires and drives us forward.
Dates: 2-4 February 2018
Venue: Kwai Tsing Theatre Auditorium
Tickets available at URBTIX from 24 November 2017
8/F Platform
In an instant
Director/Choreographer: Dorothy Sek
By challenging the rules set by traditional dance, we add a contemporary touch to play up different body movements and concepts, which bring out the understated qualities of beauty.
Dates: 22-24 September 2017
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O
Director/Choreographer: Li Han
In the midst of darkness, a darting light,
Searching, burning in vain,
Clinging on to a serendipitous encounter;
Surrender at last,
A ray of light awaits in the dark.
Anticipate, a new coming.
*Programmes to be confirmed
Dates: 8-10 December 2017
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But now we see
Director/Choreographer: Chen Rong
What is the bane of hyperconnectivity? People losing themselves in the distractions of the virtual world, aloof from reality... Perhaps a day will come when our minds will reawaken with focus and clarity. Till then, may our souls continue to grow until we are ready to take a genuine interest and bond with one another again.
*Programmes to be confirmed
Dates: 15-17 December 2017
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Venue: 8/F Platform, Hong Kong Dance Company, Sheung Wan Civic Centre
For performance details and updates, please refer to the HKDC website.
2017/18 Dance Season Advance Subscription Scheme
Enjoy premium discounts and secure the best seats for L'Amour Immortel, Vipasana, Lady White of West Lake and Tale of Three Cities by purchasing two standard tickets for two or more programmes, on or before 28 April 2017. For more information, please refer to Hong Kong Dance Company's 2017/18 season brochure or call 3103 1806.
The season brochures are distributed at all URBTIX counters and available on HKDC website www.hkdance.com .
Hong Kong Dance Company
"Dancing across East and West, Moving to the Tempo of Hong Kong"
Mission Statement
We are nurtured in the cultural tradition of China, combining the creativity of contemporary art, to impress the world with Chinese dance of Hong Kong character.
History
Established in 1981 with the aim of promoting Chinese dance, the Hong Kong Dance Company was incorporated in 2001 as a charitable and non-profit-making institution, and is financially supported by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Since its inception, the Hong Kong Dance Company has staged over 100 productions, many of which were highly popular with critical acclaim. Recent productions include Qingming Riverside, Snow Fox, Two Swallows - Ode to Wu Guanzhon, Spring Ritual?Eulogy, Pop Classics: Joseph Koo's Dance Melodies 2013, The Legend of Mulan, The Butterfly Lovers, Storm Clouds, L'Amour Immortel, Reveries of the Red Chamber, Chinese Hero: A Lone Exile and Kaleidoscope of Dance from Yunnan.
The Company has toured internationally as well as around Mainland China as a way to encourage cultural exchange. The Company was invited to perform at the "Meet in Beijing 2008" Arts Festival to celebrate the Beijing Olympics, and took part in the opening ceremony of the East Asian Games in 2009. In 2010, the Company participated in "The Ninth China Art Festival" in Guangzhou and the World Expo in Shanghai. In January 2013, the Hong Kong Dance Company presented Qingming Riverside at The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Spring Ritual?Eulogy was presented at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing in September 2013, and the Novel Hall for Performing Arts in Taipei in December 2013 as part of Hong Kong Week 2013. The Legend of Mulan was presented at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York in March 2015, in Sydney in September 2015, and in London in April 2017. The Butterfly Lovers was showcased at the Korea Dance Festival in April 2016. The three-time Hong Kong Dance Award winner L'Amour Immortel will be presented at Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center and Guangzhou Opera House in July 2017 respectively.
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