Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui |HKDance 45th Anniversary Presents: An Anniversary Event Series in Collaboration with Harbour City

Description

Forty-five years mark not only a time for reflection but also a new beginning. To celebrate its 45th anniversary, Hong Kong Dance Company (HKDance), in collaboration with its “Joy of Dance Event Partner” Harbour City, proudly presents the “Joy of Dance: Stories of Flowing Lights” exhibition. As the first major celebratory event of HKDance’s 45th-anniversary, the collaboration aims to integrate the art of dance into everyday life, allowing the public to experience its charm. 

From today until 24 May at Gallery by the Harbour, the exhibition showcases a series of precious exhibits closely tied to HKDance’s development. Highlights include creative manuscripts by HKDance Artistic Director Yang Yuntao, the Lip Fung stage costume worn by Hong Kong artist Ekin Cheng in the charity performance of the martial arts dance drama Storm Clouds, costume design sketches, stage design models and props from classic productions, a selection of posters and programmes from past seasons, and behind-the-scenes video records. Co-curated by Hiuman Lam, founder of the page “Hong Kong Reminiscence”, and local design team Wholly Wholly, the exhibition uncovers hidden gems from every corner of HKDance, tracing its artistic journey alongside the times.

HKDance has always been dedicated to arts education. In collaboration with Harbour City, a series of “Joy of Dance: Artistry in Harmony” workshop for children and families will be held over three consecutive weekends, starting from 9 May. Highlights include a martial arts dance experience led by HKDance, a nunchaku workshop taught by the Head Coach of the Hong Kong Nunchaku Association, and art workshops led by artists with disabilities in collaboration with “Inclusion Partner” Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADAHK). A special lineup of performances and activities will also take place on Mother’s Day (10 May).

Yang Yuntao, Artistic Director of Hong Kong Dance Company, expressed: “Through this exhibition, we hope to allow more people get to know HKDance, and together look back on the memorable years we have shared with Hong Kong. At the same time, through the various workshops organised with Harbour City and ADAHK, we look towards the future, enabling more people to experience art—particularly our years of exploration into the integration of martial arts and dance.” 

Meggy Cheng, Executive Director of Hong Kong Dance Company, said: “Since its inception forty-five years ago, HKDance has garnered numerous awards and recognition for its stage productions and dancers. This exhibition allows the public to travel back in time to the 1980s to explore HKDance’s historical journey, encouraging greater awareness and support for the development of dance as an art form in Hong Kong. HKDance has also long been committed to promoting artistic inclusion. Alongside establishing the Accessibility Fund to open the doors of arts and dance to those in need, several local artists with disabilities have been invited to be the instructors for the workshops, demonstrating that art truly knows no boundaries.”

45th Anniversary Exhibition: Compiling HKDance's History through Spaces and Objects

Since 1981, rooted in traditional Chinese culture, HKDance has staged more than 200 productions, toured across ten countries and regions, moving audiences with Chinese dance infused with contemporary artistic visions and the Hong Kong character. The 45th anniversary “Joy of Dance: Stories of Flowing Lights” exhibition is organised into two main zones: “Behind the Scenes: Where It All Began” and “Objects of Memory: In Step with Time”. Together, these zones trace HKDance’s artistic journey by showcasing the spaces in which HKDance has grown, alongside the objects created and accumulated across different eras. 

The exhibition features 45 treasured exhibits, including historical photographs from HKDance’s early years, costumes and props from signature productions, selected posters and programmes from past performances, major awards, souvenirs from international tours, and behind‑the‑scenes footage of the dancers at work.

Notably, the creative manuscripts of Yang Yuntao, Artistic Director of HKDance, are on public display for the first time. These include thematic notes for the dance season Meeting Yourself, as well as a notebook of Bruce Lee quotes handwritten during the creation of Kung Fu Artistry. In addition, the exhibition features the costume design sketches for Storm Clouds, Lip Fung stage costume worn by renowned Hong Kong artist Ekin Cheng during the Storm Clouds charity performance; the stage design model for Kung Fu Artistry; and a plastic piggy bank from the A Sea of Smiling LT Ducks IP—branded merchandise from a children’s dance drama. Together, these exhibits highlight HKDance’s ongoing breakthroughs in cross‑disciplinary creation.

Highlights of Key Exhibits

“Joy of Dance: Stories of Flowing Lights” Exhibition Details

Date: Now till 24 May 2026

Opening Hours: 11:00am – 9:00pm

Venue: Gallery by the Harbour 

(Shop 207, Level 2, Ocean Centre, Harbour City, 5 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui)

Workshops for Children and Family: Carrying Forward Dance, Martial Arts and More

The engrossing stage performances of HKDance go hand in hand with its emphasis on arts education. This year, HKDance established the  Accessibility Fund to foster a more inclusive culture, enabling people from all walks of life to participate in the arts with ease. In collaboration with Harbour City, HKDance will present the “Joy of Dance: Artistry in Harmony” workshop over three consecutive weekends from 9 to 24 May as the Fund’s inaugural major fundraising event. All proceeds from these workshops will be donated directly to the Fund by Harbour City. 

Workshop highlights include a nunchaku workshop led by Lau Man‑leung, Head Coach of the Hong Kong Nunchaku Association, as well as martial arts dance experiences designed to be accessible even for participants with no prior training. HKDance will also join forces with “Inclusion Partner” ADAHK and local artists with disabilities to present a series of themed art workshops, including sand art, foot painting, collage creation and twisted‑wire bouquets. Families of all ages are warmly invited to take part, enjoying meaningful creative time together in celebration of Mother’s Day.

On Mother’s Day (10 May), HKDance and its partner will present a full lineup of special performances and activities at the Atrium, G/F of Ocean Terminal in Harbour City. Highlights include excerpts from HKDance’s Grand Dance Poem In Between — Wu Guanzhong’s Ink Odyssey, performance by the HKDance Children and Youth Troupes, a performance by the China Hong Kong Para Dance Sport Association, and a sand‑painting presentation by ADAHK. Mother’s Day‑themed portrait sketching will also be available from 12:45 pm to 6:45 pm. Workshops and activities will be conducted in Cantonese. 

Workshop Registration Link: https://www.harbourcityonline.com/