Author: ccdc ccdc

[vc_row enable_arrows_animation="no"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="44861" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text](Hong Kong, Friday, 22 November 2024) The Board of Directors of City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Sang Jijia as the fifth Artistic Director. He will commence his term officially on 1 January 2025. Born in Xiahe, Gansu, Mr Sang Jijia studied dance at Minzu University of China. In 1998, he received the Asian Cultural Council Scholarship to study in the US. Last year, he was awarded the Honorary Fellowship by the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. In 1999, he joined City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) as a full-time dancer. Later in 2002, he was selected by the ‘Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative’ to study choreography under William Forsythe in Germany. During his time in Germany, he joined the Ballet Frankfurt and Forsythe Company as Assistant Choreographer and Dancer, respectively. He returned to China in 2006 and has choreographed for CCDC, BeijingDance/LDTX and Guangdong Modern Dance Company. He has also been commissioned by renowned dance companies around the world, including Ballet Frankfurt (Germany), Spellbound Contemporary Ballet (Italy), Carte Blanche (Norway) and GöteborgsOperans Danskompani (Sweden). Since 2015, he has been appointed as the Resident Choreographer for CCDC. Sang Jijia's works focus on the present and resonate deeply with the audience. His stage aesthetics integrate various art forms, including multimedia, visual arts, architecture, and live sound effects, constructing tension-filled images infused with profound ideas. He created many award-winning dance pieces, including Re-mark (the 22nd Hong Kong Dance Awards for ‘Outstanding Medium Venue Production’), Meeting In-between Time (the 24th Hong Kong Dance Awards for ‘Outstanding Alternative Space Production’), and Stream of Dust (the 25th Hong Kong Dance Awards for ‘Outstanding Choreography’ and ‘Outstanding Medium Venue Production’). In 2024, he was presented the ‘Distinguished Achievement Award’ by the 25th Hong Kong Dance Awards

[vc_row enable_arrows_animation="no"][vc_column][vc_column_text](updated: Saturday, 5 October 2024, at HKT 14:08)[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="44438" img_size="medium" alignment="center"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text](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

[vc_row enable_arrows_animation="no"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="41893" img_size="large" alignment="center"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text](Hong Kong, 6th May 2024) Last month, City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) unveiled the theme of the latest dance season ‘An Ardent °Fall’, along with an array of season-exclusive and anniversary productions. As the prelude to the dance season, Ode to Joy Evolving will guide the audience through the distinctive contemporary dance vocabulary of intermediate generation choreographer Justyne Li to enter a programmed realm in pursuit of happiness. The production will be performed at the Auditorium, Kwai Tsing Theatre from 10 to 12 May 2024. Tickets are now available at URBTIX, CCDC website and art-mate; advance booking of CCDC Dance Season 2024/25 is also available on CCDC website and art-mate until 9 May 2024 with discounts of up to 25%.   Classical Music ‘Ode to Joy’ Weaving an Impassioned Dance Space to Echo Our City Today After the debut of the short work Ode to Joy in 2021, Director and Choreographer Justyne Li has refined the work to express completely different meanings on stage. Li explains, ‘This performance is about transformation. The past few years brought significant changes to the world, which has changed people. I then expanded on these imaginations.’ Interlacing the dance work is the fourth movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, ‘Ode to Joy’. The score begins with a soft, tranquil piece of music, before gradually ascending to the majestic chorus at the end. The lyrics were taken from a poem about happiness and fraternity, written by German poet Schiller in 1785. Despite Beethoven’s harsh living conditions, ranging from deafness to financial difficulties, he managed to compose this inspiring piece of music, firmly conveying his pursuits for peace, freedom, and happiness. Aspects of classical times cast light on those of the contemporary era: the annual happiness rankings published around the world differ and fluctuate from time to time.

[vc_row enable_arrows_animation="no"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="41355" img_size="large" alignment="center"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text](Hong Kong, 26th March 2024) Stepping into the 45th bountiful year, City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) announces this season’s theme: ‘An Ardent °Fall’ – a dance scenery of autumnal cultivation and harvest. To celebrate CCDC’s anniversary, two outdoor performances, four stage productions, and a series of overseas events – all revolving around fall, will be launched. The line-up is akin to extracting nutrients from the harvests in the past 45 years, irrigating the dance company’s future creations and productions, while spreading contemporary dance art like seeds to an ever-wider audience base. Advance booking of CCDC Dance Season 2024/25 is now available on CCDC website and art-mate till 9th May 2024 with discounts of up to 25% and a one-year free membership.   Four Stage Performances – Harvest the Past, Sow for the Future Dance Season ‘An Ardent °Fall’ will be kicked off by Ode to Joy Evolving in May. Choreographer Justyne Li has reshaped her short work Ode to Joy created several years ago with her distinctive contemporary vocabulary, dividing her body into two extreme mental states. Against the backdrop of a warm autumn, Justyne Li captivates the audience through dance as she navigates a programmed realm in another dimension of time and space. The work looks into the inextricable connections between human autonomy and the ever-evolving technology. Showing in July is As If Snowing by Artist in Residence Qiao Yang, which is the fruit of her autobiographic solo dance Almost 55, after five years of nurturing. The new work is tailor-made for Yang by resident choreographer Sang Jijia. The two will join forces with guest dancers Luo Fan and Kelvin Mak, along with the creative team, including dramaturg Janice Poon, costume designer Taurus Wah, and video designer Adrian Yeung. Amid a vast rice field, they behold the reaping with

[vc_row enable_arrows_animation="no"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="39487" img_size="large" alignment="center"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text](Hong Kong, 15 January 2024) City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) concludes its ‘It’s Summer!’ dance season with the premiere of Living Up/噏 to Death last week. Led by interdisciplinary theatre director/ choreographer Ivanhoe Lam, the experimental dance theatre piece devised by a diverse and talented creative team delves into profound themes of life and death. The programme is now running up to 21 Jan 2024 (Sun) at The Box, Freespace, West Kowloon Cultural District, with tickets available at CCDC website and URBTIX.   Living in the Moment: Experiencing Rebirth in the Theatre Living Up/噏 to Death, choreographed and directed by Ivanhoe Lam, endeavors to bridge the realms of dance and life through the creative team’s collaboration with the 'Silent Teachers' Body Donation Program, alongside archive research. Central to the conception of the work, Lam suggests “Leaving is merely another beginning”. In view of the universal yet personal finality of life, he emphasizes the significance of how the living honor and continue the legacies of their predecessors. Despite its partial title reference to ‘death’, Lam aspires for the audience to experience from the experimental theatre a transformed perspective on separation and existence, encouraging viewers to seek new meanings and answers within the concept of ‘living’. The 90-minute performance blends dance, installations, text, live videos and electronic music into an immersive experience for the audience. The multidisciplinary production features Dance Artists not only performing contemporary dances, but also presenting a series of spectacular and unconventional performances, weaving multiple narratives within the same space. Lam notes, "Everyone has different experiences and ways of dealing with and facing life, which represents a contemporary view of all beings." In redefining the viewing experience, the creative team has turned the theatre space into a 'laboratory'. Each audience member becomes a ‘laboratory technician’, free to observe and wander

[vc_row enable_arrows_animation="no"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="38984" img_size="large" alignment="center"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text] Stream of Dust Kicks off ‘City Contemporary Dance Festival 2023’ with Unique Performance and Audience Space A one-of-a-kind stage experience curated by Sang Jijia makes its public debut CCDC x WestK x HKAPA (Hong Kong, 14 November 2023) The ‘City Contemporary Dance Festival 2023’ (CCDF 2023),  organised by City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) was unveiled last weekend, bringing an eclectic programme of performances and events from the international dance community to the local contemporary dance scene for two weeks in a row. The critically acclaimed opening performance, Stream of Dust, featured an exquisite stage and unique audience experience crafted and curated by Sang Jijia and 45 other performers led by him. Its roaring success in the first week has kicked off the 9-day ‘CCDF 2023’ on an exhilarating note, with four more shows of the production slated to take place. Their tickets, along with those for ‘HOTPOT East Asia Dance Platform’ which will run for the last three days, are available on CCDC and CCDF’s websites as well as URBTIX. Meanwhile, the tickets for the last show of Stream of Dust have been sold out.   Largest CCDF production meticulously crafted by a world-class team Stream of Dust, co-presented by CCDC and West Kowloon Cultural District, is the largest production ever presented by CCDF since the Festival’s inception in 2017. It is performed by a troupe of 45 dancers, including those from the company and graduating students of School of Dance, HKAPA, as well as seasoned and multitalented stage actor Alex Cheung. Each dancer bursts forth with varied postures and momentum, blending robust and gentle motions to compose a thought-provoking, fluid bodily poem. Diverse group choreography delivers a profound visual impact to the audience, putting the power of contemporary dance on display. “The piece is performed by the whole cast with

[vc_row enable_arrows_animation="no"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="37657" img_size="large" alignment="center"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text](Hong Kong, 12 Oct 2023) Presented by City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC), the ‘City Contemporary Dance Festival’ (‘CCDF 2023’), will present a series of captivating dance performances and cultural exchange activities in November, treating local and overseas audiences and artistic peers to an unparalleled sensory feast, while exploring the new frontiers of contemporary dance. Tickets are now available at CCDC, CCDF websites and URBTIX, with limited ‘Festival Passes’ also available to purchase exclusively from CCDC and CCDF websites, as a one-stop ticket for access to the full festival programmes. Initiated in 2017 by CCDC, the biennial ‘CCDF’ aims to promote local contemporary dance on the world stage and leverage Hong Kong’s influence as an artistic and cultural exchange hub between the East and West. This year, the ‘CCDF’ features the Opening Performance Stream of Dust, ‘HOTPOT East Asia Dance Platform’, and a host of other presentations, seminars, and exchange activities. In collaboration with Festival Partner West Kowloon Cultural District, curators and artists from around the world have been invited to join this international dance festival to foster closer and more enduring partnerships among the dance community.   Opening Performance Stream of Dust: The Latest Masterpiece by Award-winning Choreographer Sang Jijia, Offering a One-of-a-kind Viewer Experience[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/5"][vc_single_image image="38414" img_size="large"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="4/5"][vc_column_text]Following his roaring success last year with his acclaimed and award-winning multidisciplinary immersive dance theatre Meeting In-between Time, CCDC Resident Choreographer Sang Jijia will be opening ‘CCDF 2023’ with the large-scale contemporary dance production Stream of Dust. He will be leading a troupe of over 40 dancers from CCDC as well as graduating students of School of Dance, HKAPA, along with multitalented artist Alex Cheung. Other creators of this epic production include composer Dickson Dee, dramaturg Janice Poon, and scenographer Leo Cheung, among others. In Stream of Dust, the audience is guided by

[vc_row enable_arrows_animation="no"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="37828" img_size="large" alignment="center"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text](Hong Kong, 28th Aug 2023) Celebrating the social connectedness in our post-pandemic world, ‘Jumping Frames – Hong Kong International Movement-image Festival’ will return in September to present over 20 screenings featuring nearly 50 films, the event will be complemented with performances, exhibitions, workshops and more, with artists hailing from Hong Kong and around the globe, whose diverse and critical perspectives expand the festival theme this year. The Festival will be held at Eaton HK and MCL K11 Art House from 12 September to 6 October 2023. Tickets are now available at CCDC and MCL website.   World Premiere of New Commissioned Films by Local Talents; 9 International Featuring Films to meet Hong Kong Audience CCDC and RFHK have called for proposals last year for the films of Opening Film Feelings are Facts, atists with diverse background have been commissioned to implement different approaches in their reenactment process and presentation. A Missing Scene from Floral Princess: An untold suicide of the last Ming emperor directed by Kitty Yeung in collaboration with Cantonese Opera artist Jason Kong, an experimental short reenacting the suicide episode of the last Ming emperor, Chong-zhen from the classic Cantonese Opera Floral Princess. Feelings are Facts will have its world premiere at Eaton HK on 12 Sep, ‘Jumping Frames 2023 Opening Talk – Reality Reconfigured: Why reenactment’ would be included with artist from local and Taiwan joining hands to share more about the curatorial theme this year, ‘reenactment’. Attending artists: Elysa Wendi (Curator of ‘Jumping Frames 2023’), Kitty Yeung (Director of A Missing Scene from Floral Princess: An untold suicide of the last Ming emperor, the commissioned film of ‘Jumping Frames 2023’, So Yo-hen ( Member of ‘Your Bros Filmmaking Group’, ‘Artist Focus’ of ‘Jumping Frames 2023’) and Emilie Choi Sin-yi  (Member of ‘Jumping Frames 2023’ Research Team) Another

[vc_row enable_arrows_animation="no"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image="36465" img_size="large" alignment="center"][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text](Hong Kong, 13th June 2023) As the season-opening programme Travel of Soul Time AFTER Time & Echo in the Mirror winds to a close, City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) is kicking off the second highlight of the Season “It’s Summer!”, titled When a Poo Woos. This dance theatre piece for families is led by CCDC Artistic Director Yuri Ng and marks the first collaboration of the company with Chun Tian Hua Hua. It is the perfect choice this summer for families to experience an exciting and adventurous dance journey filled with childlike wonder. As one of the programmes of ‘International Arts Carnival 2023’, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, When a Poo Woos will be performed at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall from 11 to 13 August 2023. Tickets are now available at URBTIX, while family packages can be purchased exclusively on Klook. The story of The Excreman, a picture book by Chun Tian Hua Hua, was originally created by renowned artists Brian Tse and Alice Mak. It follows Excreman who is deemed worthless, as he chases after his dream seeking personal value and meaning. After being featured on Yellow Bus, a children’s publication, the story became widely known among adults and children, and was even adapted into musical works and showcased in exhibitions. In this unprecedented rendition of a popular character through contemporary dance, Choreographer and Director Yuri Ng will be crafting this performance with nearly 40 dance artists from CCDC, members of the CCDC Dance Centre ‘Dance Training and Performance Practice Programme’, as well as primary and secondary school students of ‘CCDC Junior’. By incorporating ingenious stage designs, costume, and dazzling animation projection, daily life and objects familiar to children will be transformed into adorable theatrical scenes. Along with newly arranged classical music and its familiar tunes and rhythms, the young audiences will