HKDance: Rhythms of Chinese Folk Dance

A Dance of Drumming Pulses 
Drumming in pulses, dancing with the soul.

Following the success of Dream of the Past: Ancient Chinese Court Dances and Myth of the Dancing Durumi, Hong Kong Dance Company (HKDance) is set to present its third piece in the series, A Dance of Drumming Pulses. Inspired by the enchanting beauty of Chinese ethnic cultures and drawing inspiration from nature and life, Artistic Director Yang Yuntao and seven choreographers from different dance backgrounds have created a series of captivating dance pieces blending drumming elements and beats. Rhythms of Chinese Folk Dance A Dance of Drumming Pulses will be performed on 6 - 8 December 2024 at the Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall. 

This programme features eight Chinese dance pieces centred around the thematic element of the drum. Six of the pieces have been newly created. Each piece employs different creative perspectives and techniques, guiding the audience to immerse themselves in a variety of unique emotional experiences. The dance pieces include Changgo Dance, The Bamboo Forest, Hereafter, Transient Radiance, Moonlit Reverie, Mindfulness, Echoes of Silence, and Dance with Silent Pulses. The graceful dances transport the audience into a vibrant dance world, exploring profound cultural meanings and dynamic human interactions.

The Celebrated Choreographer Lineup

HKDance is honoured to invite Zara Huang, Co-Artistic Director of Möbius Ring Creative Commune with over 20 years of experience in theater and drumming, to bring us a dance piece connecting limitless possibilities conjoining listening and movement: Echoes of Silence. Every dance move responds to every musical note, as performers create sonic shapes out of thin air. Dance captures tranquillity as silence between drumbeats contains the music of myriad things.

Following the success of Myth of the Dancing Durumi, HKDance once again presents Professor Jin Yinghua’s dance piece Changgo Dance, which is a folk dance of the Chaoxian peasants of Northeast China. Scenes of young Chaoxian ladies playing the Changgo drum convey the togetherness and passion of the Chaoxian people.

HKDance Principal Dancer, Hua Chi-yu, for the first time has created an original dance piece for the company: Transient Radiance. Dancers’ long sleeves evoke drumsticks, gracefully sweeping through the air to create beautiful linear silhouettes and powerful resonant drumbeats. This dance combines the long sleeves of traditional Chinese dance with the power of drumming, gradually awakening in the still of night.

Media Materials

For using all images and videos, please credit at caption: 
Rhythms of Chinese Folk Dance “A Dance of Drumming Pulses”, 2024. Courtesy of Hong Kong Dance Company.