Brown

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Inspired by the theme of its current dance season, City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) continues to push boundaries and showcase the diversity and versatility of contemporary dance in Hong Kong through a variety of themes, performance formats, and artistic mediums. Hot on the heels of our just concluded and wildly successful Immersive Installation and Contemporary Dance performance Meeting In-between Time, young and cutting edge South Korean dance artist and composer Kim Jaeduk will be taking us on a fantastical trip of colour right before the joyous Christmas holiday with his latest production Brown, to take place across 7 shows at the Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre from 16 to 25 December 2022.

A Blend of Music and Dance Coloured by a Contemporary and Oriental Spirit
Kim choreographs and composes the music for his works, including the latest colour-themed series he has been dedicated to exploring in recent years. As he returns Hong Kong to present Brown in CCDC’s current dance season, he takes up the dual roles in choreography and original music. While presenting Asian-inspired works steeped in oriental hues and elements, he is passionate about exploring his unique choreographic approach to contemporary dance and defining his creative vocabulary and style. In an interview, Kim expressed that music and dance were inseparable to him. “Music is dance, and vice versa,” he said. “I hope that the music in my works can be ‘seen’, while the dance can be ‘heard’.”

The inspiration for Brown came from the dark wooden hues of the traditional Korean string instrument ajaeng. This then led to a richly layered imagination of the colour brown. Beyond associating it with wood, the earth, and other elements of nature, Kim has the dancers wear brown masks and gloves as non-human figures, to convey a compelling futuristic vision and a striking contrast over the conventional imagery of brown. The performance starts off with primitive drumbeats and slow, mellow rhythms. As the sounds of traditional instruments and modern electronic music interweave, the dancers’ movements radiate dramatic tension and extraordinary energy. With fluid, flowing yet explosive physicality, the dance artists of CCDC will be stirring the audiences’ senses with a feast for the eyes and ears.

CCDC Once Again Brings Kim Jaeduk’s Production to Life With the Prowess of Asian Dance
As one of the most sought-after artists in South Korea in recent years, Kim is active in the performing arts scene both in his native country and abroad. He is a multitalented choreographer, singer, composer, and dancer celebrated for his inventive and inspiring rendition of traditional Korean elements through music and contemporary dance. In 2018, CCDC and Kim garnered great acclaim from audiences and critics alike for their first collaborative work Jangdan, a production that won him the Outstanding Music Composition Award at the Hong Kong Dance Awards 2019.

After four years, the “Korean wave” is once again hitting the shores of Hong Kong. On his new collaboration with CCDC, Kim said, “The dance artists at CCDC are nimble, intelligent, and brilliantly adaptable. The movements required in Brown are very different from what they have trained for, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how they will interpret and render the creative intentions behind this piece.”

Brown brings a different vitality to the 2022-23 Dance Season “Dance Mud Spring”, which has seen six online and offline productions and a movement-image festival so far. Building on their success this year, the vibrant team of CCDC looks forward to curating a brand-new and exuberant dance season under the theme of Summer next year.

16.12.2022 [Fri] 2:30PM
16.12.2022 [Fri] 8PM
17.12.2022 [Sat] 8PM (With post-performance meet-the-artist session)
18.12.2022 [Sun] 3PM (With post-performance meet-the-artist session) 23.12.2022 [Fri] 8PM
24.12.2022 [Sat] 8PM
25.12.2022 [Sun] 3PM