The Legend of Mulan in New York

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 HKDC 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 HKDC 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 HKDC 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 HKDC'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.