(updated: Saturday, 5 October 2024, at HKT 14:08)

(Hong Kong, Friday, 4 October 2024) It is with profound sadness that City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) announces the passing of Ms Ronly Kong, Manager (Outreach Affairs), on the night of Thursday, 3 October 2024 at the age of 59 after a battle with cancer.

Ronly served CCDC for over 32 years, joined CCDC in 1992 as a professional contemporary dancer and dance instructor. Growing alongside the Company, Ronly witnessed the development of dance industry and became a pioneer in establishing school dance education projects. Actively leading the team in promoting school-based dance programmes, youth dancer trainings, and professional training works, Ronly consistently coordinated and led CCDC Junior (primary and secondary school groups) and the “WuDaoQingNian – Podium Dance Performance” projects. Besides skills training, she also cultivated students’ appreciation abilities and understanding of creative concepts. The works of “WuDaoQingNian” had been performed in exchange performances in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Taiwan and Bangkok, during which deep bonds were formed with many students. To provide and promote high-quality dance teaching programmes, Ronly recently focused on professional development work. In the “Sik Sik Yuen Dance Education Research Pilot Scheme”, Ronly designed and wrote a series of creative dance curriculum based on the learning focus of the physical education subject. This curriculum led PE teachers to master the basic concepts of creative teaching, lesson planning, teaching methodology and assessment methods, implementing and practicing in schools. Through the curriculum, students could learn about their bodies, develop problem-solving skills and experience relaxation, and achieve physical and mental well-being.

During her secondary school years, Ronly studied Chinese dance under the guidance of Ms Fang Yunqing. In 1989, she obtained a Higher Diploma in Modern Dance from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and received the Hong Kong Jockey Club Music Fund Scholarship from 1989 to 1992. During this period, she was a member of the University of Utah Performing Dance Company and received the “Orchesis Award for Outstanding Performance” in 1990. After joining CCDC in 1992, she served as the coordinator and instructor for the “Modern Dance Creation in Practice Project”, nurtured over 4,000 students in 30 years, many of whom have become outstanding dancers and choreographers. Some of them have dedicated themselves to dance education development. Additionally, she was a dancer with the CCDC II team from 1994 to 1996. Over the years, Ronly wrote and designed dance arts curricula for numerous schools and had performed, choreographed, and taught for local and overseas groups. She created over 120 dance pieces. From 1998 to 2003, her works Comeo & Go, Keep Going, Out of Control, Surge, Show Tour and Waving and Wings in Heart won her the Choreography Awards in the Schools Dance Festival respectively.

Ronly was passionate about dance, dedicated, and constantly striving for excellence. She was highly respected by students, teachers, collaborators, team members and peers that made her a rare talent in the industry. In January 2009, she premiered her solo dance work r language with critical acclaims. In the same year, she was invited by the English National Ballet to be the dance artist of “Swanning Around – Dance & Cultural Exchange Project” which was held at the Expo 2010 Shanghai China.

Everyone at CCDC is saddened by the loss of our outstanding colleague. We offer our deepest condolences to her family and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time. The Company plans to hold a memorial service to show the appreciation and respect to the life and work of Ronly. Details of which are to be announced.

About City Contemporary Dance Company

Founded in 1979, City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) is the flagship of contemporary dance in Hong Kong. Ever since, CCDC has presented more than 200 highly-acclaimed original works, bringing professional dance productions to the city. The Company undertakes to blaze the path of contemporary dance scene with extraordinary performances representing contemporary Hong Kong culture.

Since 2021, Yuri Ng has taken up the role as CCDC’s Artistic Director, committed to fostering the development of local contemporary dance with his substantial experience with the Company. Actively engaged in global cultural exchange, CCDC has appeared in extensive global touring and hosted local international dance festivals and movement-image festival. The Company aspires to share the transformative power of dance on a global stage, enriching Hong Kong with multi-faceted dance experiences.

Concurrently, CCDC is dedicated to both cultivating talents and making dance more accessible. For the past three decades, CCDC Dance Centre has unceasingly conducted dance courses and pre-professional training, while organising outreach programmes to promote dance to different organisations and the general public.

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

Media Enquiry