LCSD to present Chinese dance appreciation lecture series in January next year
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will launch a Chinese dance appreciation series in January next year. Hosted by veteran choreographer Yan Xiaoqiang, the six-lecture series will introduce the historical background, aesthetic characteristics and physical culture of Chinese dance from various perspectives, guiding audiences to appreciate its rich diversity and experience its profound connection with traditional Chinese culture.
Details of each lecture are as follows:
Lecture 1: Tracing a Long Tradition of Chinese Dance
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Date: January 12 (Monday)
To outline the history of ancient Chinese dance, and illustrate its connections with related traditional Chinese cultural art forms through guided appreciation of video excerpts of classic works.
Lecture 2: Yin and Yang in Motion
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Date: January 15 (Thursday)
To provide an overview of the history of Chinese classical dance, and explore its distinctive aesthetic features and principles of body movements with live demonstrations and guided appreciation of classic dance excerpts.
Lecture 3: Vigour and Grace in Motion
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Date: January 19 (Monday)
To introduce different Chinese classical dances (including sword dance, long-sleeve dance, fan dance and Dunhuang dance) through live demonstrations and music accompaniment, along with the corresponding cultural characteristics of each dance type.
Lecture 4: The Vernacular Charm of Chinese Folk Dance
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Date: January 22 (Thursday)
To introduce representative folk dances of the Han people (including north-eastern Yangge, Shandong Yangge, Anhui flower-drum lantern dance and Guangdong Yingge), presenting the unique customs that shaped the folk dances through live demonstrations by dancers accompanied by piano.
Lecture 5: A Tapestry of Ethnic Traditions
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Date: January 26 (Monday)
To introduce iconic dances of Chinese ethnic minority groups (including the dances of Tibetan, Mongolian, Uyghur, Korean and Dai), complemented by live demonstrations and music, offering insights into the diverse customs, landscapes and ethnic aesthetics.
Lecture 6: Chinese Dance Diaspora
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Date: January 29 (Thursday)
To give an overview of the development of Chinese dance in Hong Kong, sharing creative philosophies from various stakeholders in the sector, and explore the integration and innovation of Chinese dance within the context of local culture, as well as how it showcases its unique charm in the whirlpool of cultures from the East and the West.
Yan is currently a lecturer of Chinese Dance and an advisor of the Master of Fine Arts in Dance at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He obtained his master's degree at the Beijing Dance Academy, and was founding dancer of the Beijing Dance Theater. With the company, he has performed in numerous top festivals and theatres worldwide. As a choreographer, he dedicates his efforts to the artistic expression of traditional Chinese aesthetics in contemporary contexts and fostering cross-disciplinary collaborations between different art forms.
All lectures will be conducted in Putonghua and will start at 7.30pm at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum. Each lecture will run for about one hour and 30 minutes. Tickets priced at $100 (for each lecture, with free seating) are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/dance/programs_1885.html.
Photo source: the official website of LCSD
