Where is the new generation of HK choreographers?

“… Willy Tsao and Pun Siu-fai introduced me as a newcomer. That was in 1995 but it’s 2004 and I am still seen as the young one. Actually it’s the same group of people who are still working as independent artists. Where is the new generation?”

In an interview by Professor Susan Street, former Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Dean of Dance, for the book Why They Dance, Hong Kong choreographer Daniel Yeung made this observation about the situation of Hong Kong choreographers. The same question was raised when 16 Hong Kong established choreographers choreographed and performed in My Life as a Dancer for Hong Kong Arts Festival 2007. Among these 16 Choreographers, Daniel Young, who was over 40, was still the ‘youngest’ one.

Seeing the problem, Hong Kong Arts Development Council commissioned Hong Kong Dance Alliance to organize a project for the next generation of choreographers, which became the Emerging Choreographers Series.

To help ensure the project will help the development of up-coming choreographers, the project invited 6 established choreographers to be Curators/Mentors, to select suitable participants and to mentor them. After proposal submission and interviews, 9 emerging choreographers were selected to create new works for the project.

Series I Choreographers are now busily creating and rehearsing their new works, and will present them on 19 and 20 October 2007. This blog will introduce them one by one in coming posts.