Press Release
For immediate release
21st Hong Kong Dance Awards - Shortlist Announced
Dr Tom Brown to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
28 February 2019 - Hong Kong Dance Alliance (HKDA) is pleased to announce the shortlisted nominations for the 21st Hong Kong Dance Awards, and the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to the late Dr Tom Brown. The awards will be presented at the 21st Hong Kong Dance Awards Presentation & Gala Performance, to be held on 18 April 2019 (Thursday), 8pm at Kwai Tsing Theatre Auditorium.
Since 1999, the Hong Kong Dance Awards have celebrated outstanding achievements in the local dance field and recognized artists and organizations for their contribution to the development of dance in Hong Kong. Those honoured in the past include companies such as City Contemporary Dance Company, Hong Kong Ballet, Hong Kong Dance Company, Unlock Dancing Plaza and Passoverdance; choreographers such as Helen Lai, Mui Cheuk-yin and Yuri Ng; and recipients of the ‘Distinguished Achievement Award’ such as Lau Siu-ming, Willy Tsao and Jean M. Wong.
Shortlist Announcement
This year, 41 outstanding nominees have been shortlisted under 13 award categories (please see full list attached). The shortlists were determined by a ballot of expert panelists held after reviewing all the nominations received this year. A final ballot will be conducted in March to decide the Awards with an expanded jury including all members of the HKDA Executive Committee. Award recipients will be announced during the 21st Hong Kong Dance Awards Presentation & Gala Performance. (For the list of expert panelists together with all rules and procedures of the shortlisting and final ballot process please see our website http://www.hkdanceall.org)
Dr Tom Brown (1948 – 2018) – Recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award
This year the Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to honour the late Dr Tom Brown, whose untimely passing last November at the age of 70 was a huge loss to the Hong Kong dance community. From his arrival in Hong Kong in 1985 until his death, Dr Brown was a tireless pioneer of local dance development as teacher, mentor, scholar and artist. Among many achievements during his 30 years at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts he was Head of Modern Dance, Associate Dean of Dance and the first Dean of Graduate Education, roles in which he played a crucial part in nurturing local choreographers and dancers. He was one of the earliest members of the Hong Kong Dance Alliance, of which he was Emeritus Chair and which he served as an Executive Committee member until his death. He was the long-standing editor of dance journal/hk and steering person for the Dance Awards, both of which celebrate their 21st anniversaries this year. In 2007 he received the Home Affairs Bureau Certificate of Commendation for his outstanding contribution to the development of arts and cultural activities in Hong Kong, in 2015 the Distinguished Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Dance Awards and in 2017 a Doctorate in Dance Honoris Causa from the HKAPA.
Tom Brown Emerging Choreographer Award
In memory of the immense contribution made by Dr Tom Brown in nurturing several generations of Hong Kong’s finest choreographers, the Emerging Choreographer Award which recognizes outstanding up and coming choreographic talents has been renamed in his honour as the Tom Brown Emerging Choreographer Award.
Hong Kong Dance Awards Presentation & Gala
This year, HKDA welcomes Anh Ngoc Nguyen as the Artistic Director for the Awards Gala. Born in Vietnam, Nguyen studied at the HK Academy for Performing Arts and returned to Hong Kong after developing his career in Vietnam and the UK. One of Hong Kong’s leading choreographers, he received the Dance Award for Outstanding Choreography in 2015 and is now a Lecturer in Dance at the Academy.
Generously sponsored by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Gala gives dance lovers a unique opportunity to enjoy performances by a wide range of leading local dance artists in one sparkling evening which showcases the diversity and excellence of dance in Hong Kong. Among groups performing will be the Hong Kong Ballet, Hong Kong Dance Company, City Contemporary Dance Company and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
Tickets for the 21st Hong Kong Dance Awards will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from 18 March.
For more information about the Awards, please visit: www.hkdanceall.org.
For the Awards complete press release, please click here.
For the Awards Shortlisted Nominations, please click here.
Enquiries:
Ms Chloe Wong Ching-kiu
E-mail: chloe@hkdanceall.org
Tel: 2267 6733
21st Hong Kong Dance Awards Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Dr. Tom Brown
21st Hong Kong Dance Awards Shortlist
(in alphabetical order)
Tom Brown Emerging Choreographer
Hugh Cho
Joseph Lee
Wayson Poon
Outstanding Choreography
Hu Song-wei Ricky, When You See in Hong Kong Cool (Hong Kong Ballet)
Yuri Ng for Requiem HK (City Contemporary Dance Company)
Sang Jijia for Mr Blank (City Contemporary Dance Company)
KT Yau Ka-hei for Confine in The Message Behind the Wall by 198491 (Tai Kwun Dance Season)
Outstanding Large Venue Production
City Contemporary Dance Company for Come Across
City Contemporary Dance Company for Requiem HK
Hong Kong Ballet for ALICE (in wonderland)
Outstanding Medium Venue Production
City Contemporary Dance Company for Mr Blank
Hong Kong Dance Company for Waiting Heart
Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Daniel Yeung for New Vision Arts Festival 2018: Guan Yu’s Ride of 1,000 Miles
Outstanding Small Venue Production
E-Side Dance Company for Creature of the Night
Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Gabbie Chan, Jennifer Mok for New Force in Motion Series: Lördagsgodis and Moha
Tai Kwun for Tai Kwun Dance Season: The Message Behind the wall by 198491
Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer
Shen Jie as Albrecht in Giselle (Hong Kong Ballet)
Terry Tsang in Mr Blank (City Contemporary Dance Company)
Wong Tan-ki in Soul Casting (Neo Dance HK)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer
Chen Zhiyao as Alice in ALICE (in wonderland) (Hong Kong Ballet)
Pan Lingjuan as Huo Xiaoyu in Waiting Heart (Hong Kong Dance Company)
Xie Xin in ..after.… in The Hong Kong Jockey Club Contemporary Dance Series: Dance Exchange (Hong Kong Arts Festival)
Outstanding Ensemble Performance
Gabbie Chan, Rain Chan, Ho Ming-yan, Cyrus Hui, Li Lu, Evains Lui, Alice Ma, Jessica Tang for Swim Walking Series: Light Flight the Night (Jockey Club New Arts Power)
City Contemporary Dance Company, Yat Po Singers for Requiem HK
Hong Kong Ballet for ALICE (in wonderland)
Outstanding Lighting and/ or Visual Design
Billy Chan for Lighting Design in Waiting Heart (Hong Kong Dance Company)
Lawmanray for Lighting Design in Jangdan in Come Across (City Contemporary Dance Company)
Oliver Shing for Video Directing in Mr Blank (City Contemporary Dance Company)
Outstanding Set and/or Costume Design
James Kronzer for Set Design in ALICE (in wonderland) (Hong Kong Ballet)
Liz Vandal for Costume Design in ALICE (in wonderland) (Hong Kong Ballet)
Jan Wong for Scenography & Costume Design, Ainsley So for Costume Design in New Vision Arts Festival 2018: Guan Yu’s Ride of 1,000 Miles (Leisure and Cultural Services Department)
Outstanding Music Composition and/or Sound Design
Kim Jaeduk for Original Music in Jangdan in Come Across (City Contemporary Dance Company)
Lee Che-yi for Original Music in Waiting Heart (Hong Kong Dance Company)
Yin Ng for Original Music in Requiem HK (City Contemporary Dance Company)
West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the School of Drama of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts for Creation for Freespace: Dramaturgy and Beyond — Dance Dramaturgy Series