Review-Live Vibe-Live Vibe HK
3-3-13
By: Stephanie Ip
Live Vibe was reverberating with energy tonight. They not only managed to get the entire audience on their feet by the end of the show, they also managed to make us do the robot and dance in slow motion.
Described as an “eclectic cocktail of dance” in the programme, Live Vibe was originally an event in London that showcased different types of dance. It provided a platform for artists and dance groups to connect with each other. This year will be the second time they’ve come to Hong Kong (the first being in 2010). They’ve brought us local talent in everything from hip-hop and break dancing, to contemporary and even ballet, tying all the dance acts to the theme of “identity”.
The fact that the Hong Kong dance scene was a tight knit community was evident from the moment I sat down in my seat. The audience, most of them in the dancer/family/friend category, was quick to call out the performers’ names, give enthusiastic responses to the MCs, and even get up and dance.
Artistic director Hakeem Onibudo and Lydia Lau were both great MCs who knew how to engage the audience and ensure they had a fun time. Everyone learned to dance to at least two songs. Selected audience members even got to show off their skills onstage along to DJ Shan S’ beats. Energy was high. Even if you were not a dancer yourself, you could feel the intensity and the passion of these people. It makes you almost want to sign up for a dance class next week just so you can be a part of it all.
With a theme as broad as “identity”, I wished the programme provided slightly more information other than who’s who and what the title of each dance act was. It would be cool if they told us more of what the dance was trying to convey. Some performances I liked better than others because they conveyed their themes more clearly. I like knowing the story behind the choreography rather than just viewing it as a dance.
Of the ten dance groups and solo performers, I had three favorites. The first was “What’s your secret?” by Ventrilo-cru. The two young dancers were so synchronized it was slightly eerie, and I especially loved the creativity behind the dance – much credit must be given to choreographer Giselle Liu. I also enjoyed the flawless delivery of “What if I’m not the same?” by Floz, a contemporary dance group, and the headlining group Philippine All Stars' sexiness and skill.
The other performances were good, but nothing struck me as terribly impressive. But then again, Live Vibe Hong Kong didn't seem to be about having the best but about finding those with passion for the art. It was a showcase for emerging Asian talent, a space where they were allowed to be creative and engage with each other as a community. Right now, Live Vibe Hong Kong is still pretty small, with the audience being mostly family and friends but already I see its potential for getting bigger.
This year’s dance show has been good but Live Vibe Hong Kong is still young. I hope that they’ll continue to grow. I will definitely keep an eye out for them in the future.
Live Vibe is playing at Hong Kong Polytech through March 3rd. For more information, click here.
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