Starting today (3 July), The Hong Kong Jockey Club Presents: Dance Drama Cavalry will be staged for three consecutive days at The Hall, East Kowloon Cultural Centre. The performances form part of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s (the Club) Year of the Horse campaign. The Club is the sole sponsor of the production, organised by the Bauhinia Culture Group in Hong Kong. The Club’s support for the performance reflects its commitment to the 15th National Five-Year Plan’s emphasis to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. It also promotes outstanding traditional Chinese culture and advance arts development in the city.
The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (7th left), and Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of the Club (3rd right), together with Sun Shangwu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (middle); Cui Jianchun, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR (8th left); Xu Zhengzhong, Chairman of Bauhinia Culture Group (8th right); Raistlin Lau, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government (6th left); Song Yiping, Level II Bureau Rank Official, Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (5th left); Li Li, President of Inner Mongolia Art Theatre (7th right); and other guests attend the opening ceremony of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Presents: Dance Drama Cavalry.
Performed by actors from the Inner Mongolia Art Theatre, Cavalry is the first large-scale original dance drama in Chinese stage art history to focus on the cavalry. Through powerful and virgorous dance movements, it expresses patriotic sentiments and pays tribute to history’s indomitable cavalrymen and their horses. Supported by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR Government and the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, the dance drama is also included in the programme of this year’s Chinese Culture Festival and “Chinese Performing Arts Hong Kong Season” Series.
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The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (7th left), and Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of the Club (3rd right), together with Sun Shangwu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (middle); Cui Jianchun, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR (8th left); Xu Zhengzhong, Chairman of Bauhinia Culture Group (8th right); Raistlin Lau, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government (6th left); Song Yiping, Level II Bureau Rank Official, Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (5th left); Li Li, President of Inner Mongolia Art Theatre (7th right); and other guests attend the opening ceremony of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Presents: Dance Drama Cavalry.
The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (7th left), and Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of the Club (3rd right), together with Sun Shangwu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (middle); Cui Jianchun, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR (8th left); Xu Zhengzhong, Chairman of Bauhinia Culture Group (8th right); Raistlin Lau, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government (6th left); Song Yiping, Level II Bureau Rank Official, Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (5th left); Li Li, President of Inner Mongolia Art Theatre (7th right); and other guests attend the opening ceremony of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Presents: Dance Drama Cavalry.
The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said at the opening ceremony that Cavalry’s Hong Kong debut is a rare opportunity for audiences to deepen their understanding of traditional Chinese dance, and experience the patriotism and perseverance of the Chinese nation.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Presents: Dance Drama Cavalry, which forms part of the Club’s Year of the Horse campaign, is being staged at The Hall, East Kowloon Cultural Centre.
Performed by actors from Inner Mongolia Art Theatre, Cavalry pays tribute to history’s indomitable cavalrymen through powerful and virgorous dance movements that express patriotic sentiments.
Performed by actors from Inner Mongolia Art Theatre, Cavalry pays tribute to history’s indomitable cavalrymen through powerful and virgorous dance movements that express patriotic sentiments.
The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said at the opening ceremony that Cavalry’s Hong Kong debut is a rare opportunity for audiences to deepen their understanding of traditional Chinese dance, and experience the patriotism and perseverance of the Chinese nation.
The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said the Club is honoured to sponsor a production included in the “Chinese Performing Arts Hong Kong Season” Series once again. By supporting outstanding national and local art troupes to perform in Hong Kong, the Club enables citizens and tourists to appreciate their top-rate productions, deepen their understanding of traditional Chinese dance, and experience the patriotism and perseverance of the Chinese nation. The Club will continue to leverage the city’s strengths to serve the country’s needs, and cooperate with the HKSAR Government and all sectors of society to contribute to Hong Kong’s integration into the overall national development.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Presents: Dance Drama Cavalry, which forms part of the Club’s Year of the Horse campaign, is being staged at The Hall, East Kowloon Cultural Centre.
The Club is committed to promoting cultural and artistic exchange between China and the rest of the world, and to supporting the development of cultural facilities and heritage conservation in Hong Kong. In addition to sponsoring the Cavalry performances, the Club is also offering complimentary tickets to its staff as well as Club mentors and their mentees under the Strive and Rise Programme.
Performed by actors from Inner Mongolia Art Theatre, Cavalry pays tribute to history’s indomitable cavalrymen through powerful and virgorous dance movements that express patriotic sentiments.
The Club’s Year of the Horse campaign is a year-long celebration of the close bond between horses and humans and the contribution racing makes to Hong Kong. It also promotes tourism as well as equine sports and sports development. Racing is not only the city’s favourite pastime, but also a symbol of its “can-do” spirit and stability under “One Country, Two Systems”. Through the success of Hong Kong horses on the international stage, the sport also brings pride to the community and global recognition to our city. None of this would be possible without the horse. For more information please visit https://hkjc.com/YOTH.
Performed by actors from Inner Mongolia Art Theatre, Cavalry pays tribute to history’s indomitable cavalrymen through powerful and virgorous dance movements that express patriotic sentiments.
About Cavalry
The dance drama is divided into six acts. The first half depicts the “choices” made by the hero Chuluu, who is determined to join the Inner Mongolian People’s Cavalry. Chuluu and his horse Galaa can be seen charging fearlessly through the battlefield.
The second half showcases the “loyalty” of war horses. Dancers mimic the movement of the animals, such as tumbling and jumping, to showcase the majesty and loyalty of war horses. At the performance’s conclusion, Chuluu loses his left arm and his war horse Galaa dies, signifying the unbreakable bonds of the cavalry in times of war.
The drama has been awarded the 17th Wenhua Grand Award, the 16th “Five One Project” Award and the 12th China Dance Lotus Award.
As an increasing number of Hong Kong residents choose to live, work and retire on the Chinese Mainland, the demand for cross-boundary social welfare services continues to grow. Ongoing innovation in social welfare services is therefore necessary for the sector to meet the evolving needs of society. In response, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has approved a donation of nearly HK$70 million to support Connecting Hearts Limited in launching the three-year Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead programme.
Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government (3rd left); Bernard Chan, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (3rd right); Alice Lau, Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government (2nd left); Edward To, Director of Social Welfare of the HKSAR Government (2nd right); Peter Douglas Koon, Chairman of the Connecting Hearts Limited (1st left); and Professor Annie Tam, Vice Chairperson of the Connecting Hearts Limited and President of the Connecting Hearts Academy (1st right), officiate at the launch ceremony of the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead Capacity Building Programme (Cohort 1). Photo source: HKJC
The programme is built on two pillars: capacity building and integration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). It aims to enhance the professional capabilities and leadership capacity of Hong Kong’s social welfare sector, promote cooperation in welfare services across the GBA and develop sustainable, high-quality service models for the region. The Launch Ceremony cum Pilot Class of the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead Capacity Building Programme (Cohort 1) was held today (18 August), with some 400 participants in attendance.
Officiating guests at the launch ceremony included Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government; Bernard Chan, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Alice Lau, Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government; Edward To, Director of Social Welfare of the HKSAR Government; Peter Douglas Koon, Chairman of Connecting Hearts Limited; and Professor Annie Tam, Vice Chairperson of the Connecting Hearts Limited and President of the Connecting Hearts Academy.
Club Steward Bernard Chan delivers a speech at the launch ceremony of the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead Capacity Building Programme (Cohort 1). Photo source: HKJC
As a patriotic organisation with a strong commitment to Hong Kong, the Club has consistently leveraged its unique strengths to serve society’s priorities and contribute to the country’s high-quality development. It also actively responds to the National 15th Five-Year Plan and supports measures that facilitate Hong Kong residents’ development and daily lives in the Chinese Mainland. Speaking at the ceremony, Club Steward Bernard Chan said that the Club is supporting the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead programme in response to the growing demand for cross-boundary welfare services among Hong Kong residents in the GBA. He encouraged participants to make full use of this valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of national development and welfare service practices on the Chinese Mainland. This will enable them to contribute to the long-term advancement of the social welfare sector in alignment with overall national development.
Group photo, Photo source: HKJC
Under the capacity building pillar, the programme aims to nurture a new generation of social welfare professionals equipped with expertise, leadership skills and innovative thinking to address emerging challenges arising from demographic changes, technological advancement and a rising demand for cross-regional services. The programme is expected to provide training for 1,780 social welfare professionals. Initiatives include specialised training for middle management staff to gain a deeper understanding of welfare services in the GBA, overseas study visits for industry practitioners to learn about service innovation and data application, and sponsorships for social workers with potential as future sector leaders to pursue master’s degree programmes locally or overseas.
Participants attend the pilot class of the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead Capacity Building Programme (Cohort 1). Photo source: HKJC
Under the GBA integration pillar, the programme will promote deeper collaboration between social welfare organisations in Hong Kong and throughout the region. Building on the memoranda of understanding already signed between welfare agencies, the programme is expected to incubate around 100 cross-boundary collaborative concepts in areas including services for older adults, children and families, rehabilitation and mental health, poverty alleviation, development of the welfare sector, volunteering and others. Fifteen initiatives demonstrating strong potential will receive additional funding to be developed into pilot programmes, serving as replicable and sustainable cross-boundary service models that provide more comprehensive and higher-quality welfare services for Hong Kong residents in the region.
Participants attend the pilot class of the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead Capacity Building Programme (Cohort 1). Photo source: HKJC
The Club’s support for the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead programme, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong.