Mainland and Hong Kong join forces to show cultural soft power by dancing in Hong Kong
China News Service, Hong Kong, January 14th: Mainland and Hong Kong have come together to showcase their cultural soft power through the medium of dance in Hong Kong. Several mainland dance dramas, including The Red Detachment of Women and Swan Lake by the National Ballet of China, China Oriental Performing Arts Group’s Only Green, and Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theater’s Wing Chun have been staged in Hong Kong at the beginning of the new year, sparking a wave of enthusiasm for dance dramas.
According to China News Service reporter Xiang Luping, mainland art troupes have chosen Hong Kong as the first stop of their world tour, highlighting the city’s “international connections”. As a result, tickets for these performances have been in high demand, forcing officials to sell additional tickets to meet the overwhelming response. The huge success of these performances has attracted a significant international audience as well.
The popularity of mainland-produced dance dramas can be attributed to their high standards and integration of Chinese and Western cultures. For example, “Swan Lake” performed by the National Ballet of China, choreographed by renowned ballet master Natalia Makarova, embodies elements of the Russian, British, and American art traditions. Similarly, “The Red Detachment of Women” cleverly interweaves Chinese classical dance and traditional opera with Western classical ballet, creating a unique artistic exchange between China and the West.
Another standout dance drama, “Wing Chun” by the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theater, has successfully incorporated elements of Hong Kong movies, paying tribute to the city’s iconic Kung Fu film genre. This blend of “dance” and “martial arts” has resonated strongly with audiences and has been praised for its authentic portrayal of Chinese kung fu.
The recent performances in Hong Kong are part of a broader effort to strengthen the city’s position as a center for cultural and artistic exchanges between China and foreign countries. With the support of the country’s “14th Five-Year Plan”, Hong Kong is focusing on enhancing its cultural and artistic exchanges with the mainland to boost its cultural soft power.
In response to the performances, Yang Yuntao, the Artistic Director of the Hong Kong Dance Company, commended the successful fusion of “drama” and “dance” in the production of “Wing Chun” and expressed interest in collaborating with the choreographer in future projects.
Moreover, Hong Kong has been actively engaging in cultural exchanges with the mainland and other Greater Bay Area cities to promote Chinese culture internationally. The city has also demonstrated its commitment to becoming a cultural and artistic exchange center between China and foreign countries through various initiatives, such as the Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival.
With the support of the state and collaborations with the mainland, Hong Kong seeks to expand its cultural and artistic industry from various angles, serving as a window to showcase the Chinese story to the outside world. The recent dance performances are a testament to the shared commitment of mainland and Hong Kong art troupes in enhancing cultural exchanges and promoting Chinese culture globally.
Source: China News Network