(Hong Kong, 6^th January 2025) – As the dance season An Ardent °Fall draws to a close, City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) will present the grand finale Certain Movements and Shadows this February. Jointly choreographed by renowned choreographer Helen Lai and dance artist Chou Shu-yi, and supported by an exceptional production team, this contemporary dance piece explores the relationship between poetry and the human body, creating a work that resonates with the spirit of our times. The performance will be staged at Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre from 15–16 and 21–23 February 2025. Tickets are now available on art-mate and URBTIX.

 A collaboration that transcends generations and regions; a pursuit through the secret realms where shadows whisper and light dances…

Certain Movements and Shadows draws inspiration from the verses of renowned poet Bei Dao’s February. Helen Lai and Chou Shu-yi have delved into multiple works by Bei Dao, extracting their essence to craft an evocative extension of his poetry. Together, they lead the dancers of CCDC in embodying a landscape of movement and gestures that respond to his verses. This marks the duo’s second collaboration after their 2019 production of The Rite of Spring. Chou Shu-yi not only co-creates but also performs alongside CCDC dancers. Certain Movements and Shadows intertwines the choreographers’ cross-generational and cross-regional explorations of life, shaped by their distinct journeys through eras, places, and backgrounds. Their search unfolds like the shifting forms of shadows and the fleeting light of a city.

A fusion of light, imagery and live music

Certain Movements and Shadows weaves together the elements of light, imagery and live musical performance, elevating stage aesthetics to new heights. The music, composed by emerging talent Olivier Cong, whose distinctive style has earned him recognition as Hong Kong’s first young musician to obtain Apple Music’s New Artist Spotlight, forms the heartbeat of the production. The creative team is a powerhouse of talent, featuring acclaimed theatre professionals: stage designer Lee Chi-wai, CCDC’s resident lighting designer Lawmanray, costume designer Taurus Wah, video designer Lo Wing, and sound designer Leung Po-wing. With the collaboration of resident artist Qiao Yang, seasoned and emerging dancers, and guest performer Li De, this cross-generational and cross-regional creation promises to deliver a refreshing and awe-inspiring experience for the audience.

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Performance Details

The presenter reserves the right to change the programme, artists as well as seating arrangements and audience capacities should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.

Creative and Performance Team

*With support and kind permission of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

^The ‘Dance Artistic Internship Scheme’ is supported by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council

^# Guest Performer

About the Main Creative Team

Co-choreography
Helen LAI

Photo by Worldwide Dance Project

Helen Lai is one of Hong Kong’s foremost choreographers; her works were featured at Hong Kong City Hall in 1977 and 1978. She joined CCDC in 1979, holding the posts of Artistic Director from 1985 to 1989 and Resident Choreographer from 1991 to 2011. Lai has choreographed for many local performance arts companies including Hong Kong Dance Comapny, Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, Hong Kong Ballet, DanceArt and Y-Space as well as for stage, film and television productions. She frequently collaborates with overseas companies, including Cloud Gate Dance Theatre and Crossover Dance Company in Taipei; Contempodanza and Ballet Estudio in Mexico City; Guangdong Experimental Modern Dance Company; and Singapore Dance Theatre.

Lai’s major works include Nine Songs, The Rite of Spring, Invisible Cities, Loose Pages from a Woman’s Diary, Revolutionary Pekinese Opera (Millennium Mix), In the Beginning, Plaza X, The Tragedy of Mr O, The Comedy of K, Testimony, HerStory, Tales of Two Cities – Hong Kong · Shanghai · Eileen Chang, Soledad, The Island Whispers…, While the Dream Unfolds and Winterreise. She also worked as director for the chamber opera, Heart of Coral and as director/choreographer for the tango operita, María de Buenos Aires.Lai has been the recipient of numerous awards. In 1995 she was presented with the Badge of Honour by the Queen of England. In 2000, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region awarded her the Medal of Honour. She received an Honorary Fellowship and a Doctorate of the Academy honoris causa from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in July 2004 and in October 2021, respectively.

Co-choreography and Performance
CHOU Shu-yi

Photo by Worldwide Dance Project

Born in Taiwan, Chou Shu-Yi started his dance training at the age of 10, and began his artistic career as an independent dancer and choreographer in his twenties. Through dance, he re-examines his own life, connecting dance and body with environment and society. He has performed his choreography or taken part in artist residencies at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London; Fall for Dance Festival in New York; Internationale Tanzmesse in Germany; Festival d’Avignon OFF and Le Collectif Essonne Danse in France; and created commissions for Hong Kong Arts Festival and Taiwan National Theater and Concert Hall. He co-founded Horse Dance Company (Taiwan) in 2004 and established Shu-Yi & Dancers (Taiwan) in 2011 to explore further connections between art and society. Chou has focused on an exploration of vocabulary in Asian bodies in recent years. He continues to collaborate with artists from different fields.

His major projects and productions include Next Choreography Project, Dance-Travel Project, 1875 Ravel and Bolero, Start with the Body, Faceless, Reenactment, Reenactment – In the Midst of Memories, Mr Chou, About Living and Visible and Invisible. Almost 55 for CCDC and Dancing in Beijing for BeijingDance/LDTX are some of his most recent choreography works.

About City Contemporary Dance Company

 Founded in 1979 by Dr Willy Tsao, City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) is the pioneer of contemporary dance and is financially supported by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as one of the major performing arts companies in Hong Kong. Over the years, CCDC has presented more than 250 highly acclaimed original dance works, showcasing productions that reflect the vibrancy of contemporary Hong Kong culture. With its distinctive choreographic styles, the Company has charted the evolution of contemporary dance, presenting audiences with innovative and professional performances. Celebrating the 45th anniversary, CCDC remains committed to fostering the development of local contemporary dance. Actively engaged in global cultural exchange, CCDC has toured extensively around the globe. To share the transformative power of dance on a global stage and enrich Hong Kong with multi-faceted dance experiences, CCDC has hosted signature events such as ‘City Contemporary Dance Festival’ and ‘Jumping Frames – Hong Kong International Movement-image Festival’.

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

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