Preview- Happy Birthday?- CCDC
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By: Meaghan McGurgan
Would it be a sad day if no one wished you “Happy Birthday”?
This is the question CCDC is asking in its new show in April.
City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) is Hong Kong’s first full-time professional company pioneering in contemporary dance. For the past 35 years, Willy Tsao and the team at CCDC have inspired and elated audiences in Hong Kong and around the world with superb modern dance performances.
Started in 1979, their productions by leading choreographers such as Helen Lai, Mui Cheuk-yin, Pun Siu-fai, Yuri Ng and Tsao himself, and in innovative collaborations with the best and brightest artists from other media, this company of Hong Kong's finest dancers has presented over 200 original works to popular and critical acclaim, here and abroad.
CCDC's renown is for reflecting the vigour and creativity of Hong Kong's vibrant, multi-faceted contemporary culture in a way which hopes to open audiences up to the world of modern dance. Their new production, “Happy Birthday?”, choreographed by Noel Pong, takes a look at a common occurrence in our lives in a new way. How will the birthday party be interpreted through modern dance?
The blurb for the show describes it thus: “At the happiest birthday celebration ever, a huge cake sits in the middle of the table; everyone is taking a selfie. Look at those lovebirds in the corner; they’re madly in love with each other. Don’t be upset if you’ve come alone tonight because you’re welcome to let your inner Elvis out on the karaoke machine! And it’s okay if you don’t want to be social, just drink! Where’s the host? The birthday boy is standing right there – expressionless – you can tell that someone has just given him a “birthday cake in the face” prank. So thoughtful of him to warmly entertain his guests!”
I had the pleasure of speaking to Noel and Xanthe Lau about the upcoming show.
Noel states proudly, “This is the only full-length (piece) choreographed by an up and coming female dance artist in this season’s line-up. Created by a woman who just turned 40, it gives the dance uniqueness… It is a dance to be enjoyed by both dance aficionadoes and new comers to the theatre.”
Xanthe adds, “This could be the only dance about birthday which is created in Hong Kong, by Hong Kong artists, of Hong Kong; while it is entertaining and enlightening… "Happy Birthday?" is a fun dance where you might as well get to know more about Hong Kong spirits within the quirkiness of the piece.”
“It’s unique, refreshing, a new experiment filled with energy,” says Noel. But new experiments don’t come without challenges and rewards, “Creating two duets with different style and content based on the same piece of music; within the two excerpts, the moves and mood must be different, it’s quite challenging…”
CCDC has an excellent reputation for hiring new talent from the local art community. “A few new and young dancers joined the company this year, new working partners become exciting sparks, this is the fun part while creating the piece,” says Noel.
"Happy Birthday?" is playing at the Cultural Center Studio Theatre from April 24-26. Tickets range from 160-220HKD and are currently available at URBTIX. You can also find out more information about the production at CCDC’s website.
Xanthe leaves us with a great quote to close the article with, “This year, we hope to share with every one, how dance is a universal language while maintaining the artistic innovation of CCDC. We want more Hong Kong youngsters getting to know about CCDC, especially to know about the company’s dancers; and because of that the new season will provide more creative space and exposure for young dance artists… "Happy Birthday?" is a fun dance where you might as well get to know more about Hong Kong spirits within the quirkiness of the piece.”
For more information about "Happy Birthday?" click here. You can also click here to enter the ticket giveaway for this production!
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