(HONG KONG, May 9, 2024)

The Chinese Kungfu x Dance Carnival will take place at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, from July 9 to 14, 2024. Details of the event are available on the official website www.kungfu-dance.com.hk.  Over 60 performances and educational activities. Chinese Kungfu x Dance Carnival is also Hong Kong’s first-ever mega cultural arts festival featuring a fusion of martial arts and dance. Free Admission featured programs: “Thousand-Person Martial Arts Performance”, “Chinese Kungfu Town”, “Kungfu Spectacular”, “Tang Dynasty Poetry, Music and Dance”, “The Greater Bay Area Brilliant Dance Show”, “Huafu Catwalk Show” and “Martial Arts Film Screening”

Closing Programme “Gala Dance Performance” (Ticketed Programme) will be a star-studded gala performance where top dance troupes from the Mainland and Hong Kong will take the stage to showcase avant-garde performing art. Programmes  in the “Gala Dance Performance” include: Excerpts from “Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting”, as well as dance drama “Wing Chun”, currently the most sought-after dance pieces in the Mainland;The premiere of excerpts from various dance dramas “A Dream of Red Mansions”, “Tang Shi Yi Dance” and “Dance of Calligraphy in 353 AD”; Excerpt from “Swan Lake” by the Hong Kong Ballet; Solo dances by two top dancers, Shen XuBin and Huang ChenDi;“Emboldened” as the opening dance, choreographed by Tang Ya and performed with 20 exceptional dance students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, combining the artistry of Chinese dance with the strength of martial arts; and “Wushu x Dance Duet” by two martial arts world champions

The Chinese Kungfu x Dance Carnival is a mega event financially supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Event Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.  It is also a recommended programme of the second edition of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

“Gala Dance Performance”were released for sale to the public on May 3rd through the Urbtix (www.urbtix.hk). On the first day of sales, all tickets were sold out. Due to the enthusiastic response from the audience, two additional screening will be added (Details to be announced later). Tickets start at HKD 220. Please act before it’s gone!

The Unity of Martial Arts and Dance Embodies Five Thousand Years of Chinese Culture

martial arts and Chinese dance are cultural treasures that have flourished over the past five thousand years in China. Both are deeply influenced and nourished by traditional Chinese culture. As time has passed, martial arts and Chinese dance have evolved through inheritance, constantly innovating and drawing inspiration from each other. They can be described as the integration of strength and flexibility, the interdependence of reality and illusion, the shared origins of martial arts and dance, and the harmonious blending of form and meaning. Together, they showcase the unique charm of Chinese culture.

The organizers of the ” The Chinese Kungfu x Dance Carnival “, Ms. Tang Ya (Note 1) and Mr. Wong Yufan (Note 2), have expressed their aspirations to showcase the fusion of form and meaning in martial arts and Chinese dance through their dedicated research and passion for preserving Chinese culture. Through this grand carnival, they aim to present the distinctive characteristics of martial arts and Chinese dance on the stage of Hong Kong, known as the ” Events Capital of Asia,” and to showcase the rich connotations and exquisite artistry of Chinese culture and art to the world. They strive to tell a great Chinese story and a great Hong Kong story!

Creating a unique cultural brand in Hong Kong through martial arts and Chinese dance.

Ms. Tang Ya (Note 1), founder of the event organiser Tangya Arts Tech, is dedicated to the preservation and development of the exquisite Chinese culture.  Ms. Tang said, “This Carnival is a large-scale homegrown originated project with the aim of promoting Chinese culture. By bringing top-notch Chinese culture and art to this city, we aspire to create an inspiring and entertaining atmosphere and cultivate a comprehensive appreciation of Chinese traditional aesthetics and wisdom among audience.  This is also a precious  opportunity to demonstrate Hong Kong’s role as a ‘super connector’ in cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the world.  We are thrilled to have received support from over 150 organisations. A total of nearly 4,000 performers and staff will work together during the Carnival week to offer a platform for cultural exchange and education in martial arts and dance, rendering an excellent summer activity for everyone in the city to learn, play, and celebrate together.”

Mr. Wong Yufan (Note 2), founder of the co-organiser of the event, China International WuShu Institute, hopes to gather local and international martial arts enthusiasts through this large-scale event to explore Hong Kong’s unique martial arts culture. He said, “With the exciting Thousand-Person Martial Arts Performance, Chinese Kungfu Town exhibitions, gatherings of diversified martial arts schools, and screenings of classical films of martial arts, we target to enhance the audience’s understanding of Hong Kong’s martial arts culture, evoke nostalgia as well as promote the ‘Hong Kong Wushu’ as a unique brand.”

Highlighted Programmes (Free Admission for Programme 1-7):

1. Opening Programme “Thousand-Person Martial Arts Performance”

For three consecutive mornings, a spectacular “Thousand-person Martial Arts Performance” will be held with different themes, featuring grandeur and positive energy.  The first day will showcase martial arts exercises. The second day will highlight the art of nunchaku, and Tai Chi will be presented on the third day.

2. Chinese Kungfu Town

Starting from the Clock Tower in Tsim Sha Tsui, the audience will begin their journey in the 80-meter-long Chinese styled “Kungfu Street” with stunning exhibits of Hong Kong wuxia film posters since the 1960s, followed by stories about Hong Kong martial arts cultures and their heritage.  Everyone strolling in the Kungfu Town will immerse themselves in the charm and richness of Chinese martial arts culture.

3. Kungfu Spectacular

Local and overseas Chinese Kungfu masters will come on stage to demonstrate Kungfu with strength and energy. 38 sessions are available over the 6-day event, including one international session each day.

4. Tang Dynasty Poetry, Music and Dance

Captivating performance and interactive session of “Tang Dynasty, Poetry, Music and Dance” designed especially for children will be held every day during the Carnival. By combining well-known poems with music and dance performances, participants will have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the classical Chinese literature, literary content, and profound thoughts conveyed in these classical works, cultivating a respectful and graceful demeanor in children.  In the interactive sessions, children will be invited to come on stage to learn some simple dance movements, participate in quizzes about Chinese poetry, martial arts and dance, as well as lantern riddles guessing, immersing in the rich cultural heritage of traditional music, dance, and poetry.

5. The Greater Bay Area Brilliant Dance Show

Elite artistic groups from the Greater Bay Area will present their exquisite performances infused with elements of Chinese culture in a wide variety of styles, including Chinese classical dance, Chinese folk dances, ballet, street dance, contemporary dance, martial arts, Latin dance, as well as intangible cultural heritage dances/performances with intangible cultural heritage elements.

6. Huafu Catwalk Show

Models dressed in exquisite Chinese clothing will exhibit the charm of Chinese (Huafu) attire, inviting the audience to immerse in the beauty of Chinese traditional attire and cultural heritage. 

7. Martial Arts Film Screening

Three consecutive nights of outdoor movie screening of classic Kungfu films will demonstrate the linkage between Hong Kong martial arts and wuxia movies from various perspectives, stimulating nostalgia for martial arts films among audience.

8. Closing Programme “Gala Dance Performance” (Ticketed Programme)

This will be a star-studded gala performance where top dance troupes from the Mainland and Hong Kong will take the stage to showcase avant-garde performing art.  A variety of programmes, gathering the essence of varied dances (and martial arts), will assemble the passion and glory of the performers, lighting up the city and demonstrating the extraordinary charm of Chinese cultural arts.

Programmes  in the “Gala Dance Performance” include:

• Excerpts from “Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting”, as well as dance drama “Wing Chun”, currently the most sought-after dance pieces in the Mainland;
• The premiere of excerpts from various dance dramas “A Dream of Red Mansions”, “Tang Shi Yi Dance” and “Dance of Calligraphy in 353 AD”;
• Excerpt from “Swan Lake” by the Hong Kong Ballet;
• Solo dances by two top dancers, Shen XuBin and Huang ChenDi;
• “Emboldened” as the opening dance, choreographed by Tang Ya and performed with 20 exceptional dance students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, combining the artistry of Chinese dance with the strength of martial arts; and
• “Wushu x Dance Duet” by two martial arts world champions

Ticket Information:

* Tickets for additional screenings “Gala Dance Performance” will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk).  Audience may also call (852) 3166 1288 or visit the URBTIX outlets to purchase the tickets. (Details to be announced later)

* Ticket prices are HKD 880, 680, 480, 380, and 220.