Chinese Culture Festival 2024 Henderson Land presents 𝙁𝙪𝙣 𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘽𝙞𝙜 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 – 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝟮.𝟬
The Enchanting Return of a Family Dance Drama
Chinese Culture Festival 2024
Henderson Land presents 𝙁𝙪𝙣 𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘽𝙞𝙜 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 – 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝟮.𝟬
With singing, dancing and much more!
“Throw away what you don’t need any more!” Mum says, urging Ashley to pack up her stuff because they are moving house soon. Peeking out from under her bed is a group of long-forgotten friends – Uncle Rice and Mini Rice, Hiking Shoe, Red Packet, the Sewing Kit twins, Goosie, and Fishbowl Pavilion – who pretend to be lifeless objects when Ashley and her mother are around. They always have fun singing and dancing while Ashley is away, but now they are worried. They don’t want to be thrown away like rubbish! Just then, Big Beard, a supersized calligraphy brush who reels off Chinese poems every now and then, pops up and reminisces about times they spent with Ashley when she was little.
So who is Big Beard? Is Ashley going to desert her old friends? Will she remember any of them?
Highly anticipated for the 2023/24 season is Hong Kong Dance Company’s Fun Ride with Big Beard – Dancing Poems 2.0, presented by Henderson Land, which will be staged at the “Chinese Culture Festival 2024”. The show will run for two consecutive weeks, from 9 to 11 August at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre and from 16 to 18 August at Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall. Following the production’s successful debut in 2018, guest artist Xie Yin returns to collaborate with choreographers Cai Fei and Ke Zhiyong and a talented ensemble, bringing back Fun Ride with Big Beard – Dancing Poems 2.0 after a six-year hiatus. This festive fusion performed by close to 300 students of HKDance Children’s and Youth Troupes is made possible through the support of Anthony Ho as guest performer and other professional dancers from Hong Kong Dance Company (HKDance). Following his debut as Big Beard in this family-friendly poetic dance theatre, Ho reprises the role, inviting children of all ages to embark on this enchanting, poetic dance adventure together.
Discover treasures of classical Chinese literature in this extravaganza of dance, drama, poetry, and music! Through this fun and joyful interactive stage experience for kids of all ages, HKDance aspires to promote Chinese dance, literature, and the traditional virtues prized in Chinese culture. The story begins with our young protagonist, Ashley, sorting through items under her bed before moving house. Suddenly, to Ashley’s surprise, Big Beard descends from above, regaling us with little stories about Ashley and her belongings, inspired by classical Chinese literature. Seamlessly integrating poetry with dance theatre, this production invites the audience to experience the essence of traditional Chinese literature.
Big Beard invites all children to participate in the “Big Beard! Sing & Dance Competition” and “Big Beard! Chinese Speech Competition”. Children are encouraged to express their creativity by performing their own dances and interpretations and have fun while gaining a deeper appreciation of poetry. Outstanding young poets will also have the chance to showcase their talents during the Programme Promotion of Fun Ride with Big Beard – Dancing Poems 2.0.
This programme is suitable for audiences aged 3 and above, and we welcome families to come along and enjoy song, dance, and poetry recitals together. The special packages “Chinese Culture Festival 2024 Group Booking and Package booking” and “Big Beard Family Package” offer discounts of up to 25% and 17% respectively. Big Beard invites you to join this wonderful journey this summer!
Venue
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Session
9–10.8.2024 (Fri–Sat) 7:45pm
10–11.8.2024 (Sat–Sun) 3:00pm
Price
$440 $340 $240 $140 $80
Venue
Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall
Session
16–17.8.2024 (Fri–Sat) 7:45pm
17–18.8.2024 (Sat–Sun) 3:00pm
Price
$360 $260 $160 $100
Duration
Programme duration is about 1 hour and 30 minutes with an intermission.
Discount Scheme
● ”Chinese Culture Festival 2024 Group Booking and Package Booking“: Enjoy up to 25% discount
● “Big Beard Family Package”: Enjoy up to 17% discount
● 50% off for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their attendants and CSSA recipients (limited quota)
● Members of Friends of Hong Kong Dance Company: Prestige can enjoy 20% off and Classic Members can enjoy 10% off
● For details of other discounts, please refer to HKDance website
Ticketing
Tickets now available at URBTIX and DAMAI
Age Limit
Suitable for ages 3 and above
Programme Enquiries
3103 1888 / www.hkdance.com
Programme Plus
Programme Plus of 𝙁𝙪𝙣 𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘽𝙞𝙜 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 – 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝟮.𝟬
For the singing contest, participants will sing while creating their own movements/dance to the song “Pity the Farmer” by the famous composer Yin Ng.
Age groups
3 - 6
Application deadline
20.7.2024 (Sat)
For the Chinese speech contest, participants will recite the famous poem “Shui diao ge tou” by the renowned Song dynasty literary figure Su Shi.
Age groups
7 - 10
Application deadline
20.7.2024 (Sat)
Date
15.7–1.8.2024
Venue
E2, Foyer Exhibition Area, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Date and Time
20.7.2024 (Sat) 3:15pm–4:15pm
Venue
Foyer, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Date and Time
27.7.2024 (Sat) 2:30pm–3:30pm
Venue
Plaza, Sha Tin Town Hall
Event details
Awardees’ performance and award ceremony of “Big Beard! Sing & Dance Competition and “Big Beard! Chinese Speech Competition”
Artistic Director
Yang Yuntao
Concept/Choreographer/Artistic Coordinator
Xie Yin
Choreographers/Artistic Coordinators
Cai Fei, Ke Zhiyong
Choreographers
Chen Rong, He Chaoya, He Yongning, Hu Xiaoou, Lee Hoi-tung, Tsang Ka-yee,Wu Kam-ming
Music Director/Composer
Yin Ng
Set and Costume Designer (Premiere)
Charfi Hung
Costume Designer and Deputy Set Designer
Cheryl Ching
Lighting Designer
Anfy Shum
Sound Designer
Wan San-hong
Theatre Instructor
Jessie Yeung
Guest Performer
Anthony Ho
Performers
Hong Kong Dance Company, HKDance Children’s & Youth Troupes
Title Sponsor
Community Ticket Sponsor
Media Materials
For using all images and videos, please credit at caption:
Chinese Culture Festival 2024 Henderson Land presents 𝙁𝙪𝙣 𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘽𝙞𝙜 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 – 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝟮.𝟬, 2024. Courtesy of Hong Kong Dance Company.