(Hong Kong, 17^th November 2022) City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) continues to push boundaries and showcase the diversity and versatility of contemporary dance in Hong Kong to represent contemporary Hong Kong culture. As Christmas approaches, CCDC is collaborating with Cantonese linguist Ben Sir, co-created a brand-new educational dance theatre piece titled Ben Sir’s Dancing Academy – from taboo to BENboo. In this joyous and educational dance theatre piece, Ben Sir takes the challenge of dancing, Ben Sir and the performers breathe new life to “vulgar” words and phrases through spoken lyrics and dance. As adults and children show off their Canton prowess while breaking a sweat together, all taboos are thrown out the window. Ben Sir’s Dancing Academy – from taboo to BENboo takes place across 5 shows at the Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre from 20 to 21 December 2022. Tickets now available at URBTIX and exclusive family packages now available on Klook.

Adult: “Don’t say that word, kid… and that word as well…”
Child: “What exactly am I not allowed to say?”
Children are often told by adults which words are off-limits and shouldn’t be uttered.
But what if they sang them, or danced them out?

Breaking Barriers With Family Fun

Following the success of its ‘cool’ summer hit Luck-quacka in 2021, CCDC is presenting a fun and educational production this winter that is perfect for families during the festive season.

The family-oriented performance is not only suitable for children but will also resonate with grown-ups. CCDC’s Artistic Director Yuri Ng said, “This will be a colourful dance theatre piece that captivates young audiences with various quirky body movements, words, and sounds. At the same time, our Cantonese expert Ben Sir will provide commentaries on the dance, making it an engaging experience for the adults as well.” Ben Sir, a linguist and passionate stage performer, will transform into a physical education teacher in this production, on top of being the creator of the script. By combining dance and teaching, he encourages adults and their children to throw taboos out the window and utter “vulgar” words and phrases that are usually “censored” in everyday life. The performance will be a wonderful opportunity for families to break linguistic barriers and communicate with greater ease; as well as a good educational topic for adults to discuss with their little ones.

The dance drama is the latest creation from Yuri that explores the intriguing relationship between body and language, following his previous works LauZone and Home Sweat Home, which also revolved around the theme of language. This time around, Yuri’s collaboration with Ben Sir homes in on “taboos” in the Cantonese language, inviting adults and children alike on an interesting and light-hearted journey through dance and dialect.

Stepping out of Classrooms Into Theatre

The production’s title is a play on the word “bamboo” that recalls the strict traditional classroom settings where pupils were punished with wooden or bamboo sticks for failing to, for example, recite passages or obey rules. This echoes the title in Chinese‘卜卜齋’ which mimics the sounds of beating sticks. In this performance, the team aims to break the mould and curate a unique experience outside classrooms that borrows elements from contemporary performing arts.

CCDC Dramaturg Melissa Leung said, “Dance is a medium through which we use our bodies to feel what’s within and outside of ourselves, and a way for us to understand ourselves and the things around us. Through movements, we can learn without constraints––sow seeds of ‘curiosity’; water flowers of ‘exploration’, and pick fruits of ‘creation’.” Through the educational dance, CCDC hopes to create a joyful and uninhibited environment where children can explore their imagination and learn more productively anywhere, anytime.

Ben Sir’s Dancing Academy – from taboo to BENboo will be taking place at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre at around the same time as another CCDC dance programme Brown, a collaboration with South Korean choreographer Kim Jaeduk. Over this period, aduiences will be treated to a dazzlingly diverse programme from a quirky and fun dance drama “on a sports field” to a contemporary masterpiece filled with vibrant dynamics and piercing sentiments. The two productions will mark a spectacular end to CCDC’s 2022/23 dance season ‘Dance MUD Spring’, as they signal a brand-new season next year based around the theme of summer.

Ben Sir’s Dancing Academy – from taboo to BENboo Programme Details

Remarks:

Audience of aged 6 or above are welcomed.
Approximately 60 minutes.
Conducted in Cantonese.

Creative Team

About the Creative Team

About City Contemporary Dance Company

City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC), the flagship of modern dance in Hong Kong, undertakes to blaze the path of contemporary dance scene with extraordinary performances representing contemporary Hong Kong culture. Founded by Willy Tsao in 1979 and directed by Yuri Ng, CCDC has presented more than 200 highly-acclaimed original works by leading choreographers and innovative collaborations with artists across various media. City Contemporary Dance Festival has pioneered in Asia to reimagine the possibilities of modern dance. It is renowned for translating the vigour and creativity of Hong Kong’s multifaceted culture. Since 1980, the Company has accepted 273 overseas performance invitations to represent Hong Kong at the world’s foremost dance stages and festivals. It is regarded as “the artistic soul of contemporary Hong Kong”.

City Contemporary Dance Company is supported by the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Media Enquiry

City Contemporary Dance Company reserves the right to substitute artists and vary advertised programmes.