Mulan Dance Drama Showcases Chinese Heritage - Grand Theatre Performance September 14-15 - Get Your Tickets Now!

Award-winning grand dance drama "Mulan" to be staged at Hong Kong's inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in September

The inaugural Chinese Culture Festival (CCF), organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will present the dance drama "Mulan" by Ningbo Performance & Arts Group, which is a winning production of the Lotus Award, China's highest award for dance in mid-September. With an ingenious blend of dance, martial arts and theatre elements together with exquisite modern stage technology, the dance drama reshapes the story of well-known legendary heroine Hua Mulan, and celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival with Hong Kong audiences with a symbol of reunion. This is one of the programmes of the "Chinese Performing Arts Hong Kong Season" Series, and is also a celebratory programme of the 35th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

The storyline of dance drama "Mulan" focuses on the virtues of filial piety, loyalty and love, highlighting the love for the homeland and the glory of humanity. It tells the story of how young and beautiful Hua Mulan embarks on a heroine's journey in the Northern Wei dynasty. From disguising herself as a man to take her father's place in the army, fulfilling her missions, pursuing love, and ultimately returning to peace and freedom, Mulan sets off on a journey of self-discovery and self-identity.

The programme consists of 21 scenes, including the delicate "Serenade" and "Brass Mirror", as well as the grandiose "To the Battlefield" and "The Last Battle". The blend of the dance and martial arts is one of the main features of this programme, in which forms of martial arts movements are reconstructed through modern dance techniques, and the richness of the characters' emotions and tension are illustrated through their vigorous body movements on stage. Meanwhile, "circle" is an important symbol throughout the story narration and stage design. Apart from symbolising reunion and perfection, the revolving circular stage also breaks the limitations of time and space to create more scenes and possibilities for the stage setting. The music of the work is a contemporary arrangement of traditional Chinese folk tunes, blended with a variety of styles and types of musical instruments. Together with the heart-rending interpretation by the dancers, the production interprets the rich heritage of a traditional Chinese story with innovative dance vocabulary and stage aesthetics of the new era.

The dance drama "Mulan" is directed by Zhou Liya and Han Zhen, known as the "twin stars" of the dance scene on the Mainland. It is starred by Hao Ruoqi (as Mulan), one of the highly sought-after young dancers on the Mainland and a Gold Award winner of the Lotus Award, and Xia Tian (as General Wei), the principal dancer of Ningbo Song and Dance Theater. Since its premiere in 2017, the dance drama has been performed over a hundred times in different Mainland provinces and cities. It won the 11th China Dance Lotus Award for Dance Drama and the Orchid Award of the 14th Zhejiang Provincial Drama Festival, and was invited to participate in the 20th China Shanghai International Arts Festival and the 50th Festival Internacional Cervantino in Mexico. Last year, the production toured the United States and won critical acclaim.

Ningbo Performance & Arts Group is the only municipal state-owned performing arts troupe in Ningbo. It has produced approximately 90 repertories, such as dance dramas "Mulan", "Xian Xinghai" and "The Great Harbour in the East". Its productions have been awarded the China Dance Lotus Awards, and were selected to be funded by the China National Arts Fund. The group's performances have been staged on the Mainland and overseas such as France, the United States and Germany, presenting Ningbo's splendid and long-lasting regional culture to audiences at home and abroad.

City Under the Moon - Dance Drama: "Mulan" by Ningbo Performance & Arts Group will be held at 7.30pm on September 14 (Saturday) and at 2.30pm on September 15 (Sunday) at the Grand Theatre of Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $200, $260, $340 and $420 are available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) and the Xiqu Centre Ticket Office, West Kowloon Cultural District. For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/city-under-the-moon-%e2%94%80-dance-drama-mulan/.

"Mulan" will also feature a session under the "Chinese Culture for All: A Special Performance Series". An open rehearsal of the dance drama will be held at 2.15pm on September 13 at the Grand Theatre of Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Local primary and secondary school students have been invited to join for free so as to encourage them to participate in cultural activities and experience the wonders of Chinese culture and arts.

The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the LCSD's Chinese Culture Promotion Office, aims to enhance the public's appreciation of Chinese culture and cultivate citizens' national identity and cultural confidence. The inaugural CCF is held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival, exemplary local arts projects recognised by the China National Arts Fund, performing arts programmes from arts and cultural organisations, film screenings, exhibitions, talks and more, the festival allows members of the public and visitors to experience the broad and profound Chinese culture with a view to promoting Chinese culture and patriotic education as well as enhancing national identity among the people of Hong Kong, making contributions to the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems". For details, please visit the CCF websitewww.ccf.gov.hk.

The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visitwww.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.

Award-winning grand dance drama "Mulan" to be staged at Hong Kong's inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Award-winning grand dance drama "Mulan" to be staged at Hong Kong's inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Award-winning grand dance drama "Mulan" to be staged at Hong Kong's inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Award-winning grand dance drama "Mulan" to be staged at Hong Kong's inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Award-winning grand dance drama "Mulan" to be staged at Hong Kong's inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Award-winning grand dance drama "Mulan" to be staged at Hong Kong's inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Award-winning grand dance drama "Mulan" to be staged at Hong Kong's inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Award-winning grand dance drama "Mulan" to be staged at Hong Kong's inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Award-winning grand dance drama "Mulan" to be staged at Hong Kong's inaugural Chinese Culture Festival in September Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CHP reminds public on precautions against heat stroke during very hot weather

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 18) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

"The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities," a spokesman for the CHP said.

"Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system," the spokesman explained.

"Infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, outdoor/manual workers, and individuals who are overweight are more vulnerable to heat stroke. They should pay special attention," the spokesman added.

The public should adopt the following precautions:

Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;

Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion can place additional demands on the physique;

Perform outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible;

For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation;

Do not stay inside a parked vehicle; and

Reschedule work to cooler times of the day if feasible. If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable. Start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Move to a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

​The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index is high (6 or above):

Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;

Wear long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes;

Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella;

Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15, preferably higher. Reapply every two hours if you stay out in the sun, and after swimming, sweating or towelling off; and

While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

​If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

​The public may obtain more information from the DH's Health Education Infoline (2833 0111),heat strokepage andUV radiationpage; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.