25th Hong Kong Dance Awards

Press Release - For immediate release

25^th Hong Kong Dance Awards

- The Awards celebrate their 25^th edition

- Shortlisted Nominations Announced

- 2 Distinguished Achievement Awards and 2 Lifetime Achievement Awards to be presented

20 February 2024 – Hong Kong Dance Alliance (HKDA) is delighted to announce the shortlisted nominations for this year’s Hong Kong Dance Awards.  To mark the 25th edition of the Awards and the 30^th anniversary of the Hong Kong Dance Alliance, two Distinguished Achievement Awards and two Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented.  “This is such a special year for both the Awards and the Alliance,” says Alliance Chairperson Allen Lam, “We want to celebrate by recognizing four exceptional individuals who have played a key role in the achievements of the dance sector and the progress dance in Hong Kong has made since the Awards were first launched in 1999.” 

Shortlisted Nominations

A total of over 48 outstanding nominations have been shortlisted under 14 award categories. The shortlists attached were determined by a secret ballot of expert panelists held after reviewing all the nominations received. A final ballot will be conducted in the coming weeks to decide the Awards with an expanded jury including all members of the HKDA Executive Committee.

In the Production categories, small groups and independent artists made a particularly strong showing this year – among those shortlisted are Siu Lung Fung Dance Theater, Neo Dance HK, Unlock Dancing Plaza and Beyond Dance Theater. Outstanding productions shortlisted in multiple categories include City Contemporary Dance Company’s Stream of Dust, Hong Kong Dance Company’s A Dance of Celestial Rhythms, Hong Kong Ballet’s La Bayadère and The magnificent orange tree from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts School of Dance.

For the first time, two international guests will join the final round jury for the Outstanding Choreography Award. They are:

• Jonathan Gray, one of Britain’s leading dance critics and editor of Dancing Times from 2008 to 2022;
• Tung I-Fen, internationally renowned choreographer, performer and educator from Taiwan.

Natasha Rogai, Co-Chair of the Production Categories Panel, says: “We are delighted to have two such distinguished guest panelists, who will bring a fresh perspective and an international viewpoint to the work of our local choreographers.”

Chair of the Community Categories Panel, Stella Lau, is impressed by the many ways the dance sector contributes to the community as a whole. “It’s wonderful to see our artists introducing the joy of dance to people of all kinds and bringing new life to different sites around the city with imaginative use of alternative space.”

A complete list of the shortlisted nominations is attached.

Distinguished Achievement Award

The Distinguished Achievement Award will be presented to

• Sang Jijia for his unique artistic vision and numerous works of ground-breaking choreography;
• Kevin Wong for his tireless work and immense contribution to the development of dance and the nurturing of dance artists in Hong Kong.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to

• Mandy Petty for her passion and dedication in pioneering tap dance in Hong Kong for more than 40 years;
• Sylvia Wu for her invaluable contribution to the development of ballet in Hong Kong as dancer and educator for over 50 years.  

Hong Kong Dance Awards Presentation & Gala

Award recipients will be announced during the 25^th Hong Kong Dance Awards Presentation & Gala Performance which will take place at 7:30pm on Saturday 20 April 2024 at Kwai Tsing Theatre Auditorium.

Taking ‘Celebration of Dance’ as its theme, the Gala will look forward to the future as well as paying tribute to the achievements of the past.  Appearances by artists from a range of genres will showcase the variety and vitality of the local dance scene, under the direction of an artistic committee headed by Allen Lam and Alliance Vice-Chair Angela Hang.

Tickets will be on sale via URBTIX around mid of March 2024 and everyone is welcome to attend.

For the list of expert panelists together with all rules and procedures of the shortlisting and final ballot process, please visit http://www.hkdanceall.org/?a=group&id=award_about.

Enquiries:

Vanessa Chan

E-mail:  vanessa@hkdanceall.org / danceawards@hkdanceall.org

Tel: 2267 6631