
The Legend of Mulan in New York
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Synopsis
The Legend of Mulan has received numerous accolades and is a gem of the Hong Kong Dance Company repertoire that fuses contemporary creativity and Chinese dance with Hong Kong character. Keen in fulfilling its responsibilities as Hong Kong’s cultural ambassador, the Company brought this Hong Kong’s unique artistic imprint onto the world stage. At the final performance of The Legend of Mulan, forty children of different ethnicities were invited on stage to recite The Ballad of Mulan in Chinese, marking the event as a veritable cultural exchange that extended the boundaries of dance art.
The HKDance also devoted its efforts in outreach and community events, endeavoring to interact with local communities, share cultural experiences and introduce the art of Chinese dance to New Yorkers. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in New York organised a “Spotlight Hong Kong” exhibition in the landmark building of Time Warner Center, where HKDance costumes and information on The Legend of Mulan were on display. Other costumes were also exhibited at the Lincoln Center’s lobby, and all of these displays attracted numerous visitors and photo clicks. On March 4, the HKDance visited the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts where a Chinese dance workshop was held for the students. Thanks to the live demonstration and instruction by HKDance's dance master and dancers, students learnt firsthand details about Chinese dance technique. The HKETO in New York also invited the School’s President and students to attend a performance of The Legend of Mulan that complemented the workshop. Students had the chance to come face to face with a comprehensive immersion in Chinese dance, deepening their interest in Chinese culture.
To improve the Company’s artistic standards and encourage creativity, the Company participated in an Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation master class on March 3, opening new and fruitful vistas for our dancers to learn and experience different dance techniques. On the same evening, the HKDance’s Artistic Director Yang Yuntao brought our dancers to attend “Shen Wei: An Evening of Conversation and Performance” at the New York Historical Society. Renowned dancer and choreographer Shen Wei discussed his artistic process, and live demonstrations were presented by members of Shen Wei Dance Arts.
Other Tours
The Legend of Mulan has also toured to other destinations, including:
17 - 19 September 2015 The Concourse Theatre Chatswood, Sydney
15 April 2015 at Southbank Centre, London
21 - 22 June 2019 The Belarusian State Academic Musical Theatre, Minsk
Production & Artistic Team
Director & Choreographer:
Yang Yuntao
Playwright:
Gerard CC Tsang
Associate Choreographer:
Xie Yin
Music Director & Composer:
Matthew Ma
Set Designer:
Yuen Hon-wai
Costume Designer:
Karin Chiu
Lighting Designer:
Yeung Tsz-yan
Digital Images Designer:
John Wong
Training Instructor:
Ke Zhiyong