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EVENT DESCRIPTION
The annual dance theatre for families by City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) will once again return this August, presenting to family audiences a contemporary dance performance that resonates with local culture. This year, CCDC features the household name ‘Siu Ming’ as the protagonist in Sliding into Heart, taking the audience on a mysterious journey inside kids’ imagination, while embarking on an ‘extra-ordinary’ adventure related to growing up.
Sliding into Heart is one of the programmes of the International Arts Carnival 2024 and will bring four performances from 9 to 11 August 2024, at Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium.
Childhood Toys and Games Turns into Surprising Stage Elements
Kids and Adults to Seek Oneself in a Dance Wonderland of Imagination
Sliding into Heart tells a story from the perspective of the protagonist ‘Siu Ming’, leading the audience to slide between a world of imagination and of reality, reflecting on different experiences in life: moments of happiness, the unknown, loneliness, being lost, and the chase for something… The narration starts with ‘Siu Ming’ unpacking the toy box by himself, and through his journey of moving abroad, the audience will be taken through the various essential stages and memories while growing up.
Choreographed and directed by CCDC Resident Rehearsal Mistress Shirley Lok and co-choreographed by CCDC Teaching Artist Peggy Lam, the performance incorporates everyday objects and childhood toys and games as stage elements, together with awe-inspiring set design and captivating projections. CCDC dancers will dance alongside nearly 30 young dancers aged 6 to 12, immersing themselves in Siu Ming’s imaginative world with contemporary dance.
But here comes the question, who is ‘Siu Ming’? What is the game of ‘Siu Ming Siu Ming Siu Siu Ming’? These familiar figures and childhood games to parents are now likely unknown to children nowadays. The creative inspiration of the performance comes from choreographer Shirley’s daily experiences with her child. As a young mother, she is often inspired and has gained valuable insights from her parental journey: “Children’s out-of-the-box ideas and childlike values actually have a lot for adults to learn from. I hope both parents and children who come watch the show will be moved by the dancers on stage and have their own ‘Lost & Found’ journey.”
Children and Adults Co-creating Contemporary Dance Moves
Experiencing ‘in-the-moment’ Happiness
As in previous years, with the purpose of nurturing children’s passion for dance from a young age, CCDC has auditioned and invited a group of gifted young dancers to undergo professional rehearsals and join CCDC dancers to perform on stage. Hoping to create content that resonates with children, the creative team of Sliding into Heart invited young dancers in the early rehearsal stages to share their childhood memories through writing, drawing, and making clay models; which will be transformed into show elements on stage to create a moving journey for the audience.
Two pre-show activities designed with child perspectives were also held for Sliding into Heart, namely ‘Mommy Daddy Will You Move Like Me’ Movement Workshop and ‘A Playground for YOU’ Model Construction Workshop. Through fun parent-child interactions, the workshops inspire family participants to be more empathetic towards one another and encourage parents to look at the world from kids’ perspectives, while preparing them for the trip into Siu Ming’s realm of imagination in the theatre.
9.8.2024 [Fri] 8pm
10.8.2024 [Sat] 3pm, 8pm
11.8.2024 [Sun] 3pm
