Up Those Sleeves: An Interview with Hong Kong Dance Company’s Principal Dancer Tina Hua Chi-yu
An Interview with Hong Kong Dance Company’s Principal Dancer
Embedded in a world of culture and heritage, Chinese Dance also creates room for innovation, creativity and wonderment. Sharing her dance stories as she unveils the surprises up her sleeves, Hong Kong Dance Company’s Principal Dancer Tina Hua Chiyu invites us into her experiences with Hong Kong’s iconic dance company.
How has your career as a Principal Dancer progressed at Hong Kong Dance Company?
I have been very lucky to be a performer with Hong Kong Dance Company. Although I started as an ensemble dancer, I had the opportunity to try solos, lead dances and perform various character roles. The dance company gives newcomers a lot of opportunities regardless of age. I have been given plenty of opportunities which have allowed me to further my training and gain different experiences to become a better dancer.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I love watching dramas, especially idol dramas.
Because it’s not only a form of relaxation where you don’t have to think about anything, but you get to experience these girlish dreams that are far from reality. When watching dramas, you tap into your imagination, and can always be young at heart.
Tell us about your favourite performance experience with Hong Kong Dance Company.
To be honest, I love every performance, because I’ve given each and every one of them my all. I’d be curious to know which performance is the crowd favourite. If I were to choose just one, The Butterfly
Lovers is a memorable performance for me, as this was the first show I did after giving birth. The emotions
I expressed in the performance were different from the emotions I had before having had my child. I was able to integrate these emotions into dance more readily and then play them out having had a deeper understanding of the role.
If you were not a dancer, what would you most likely be?
I think I’d prefer something related to beauty in general, as I absolutely love beautiful things. I would probably go into the fashion industry, or do something like nail art, etc. I actually completed a nail art certificate course because of my love for beauty!
How do you hope your performance influences your audience?
Actually, I don’t think about that much. I’m luckier than others because my life is enriched with dance and I am blessed with the opportunity to perform dance dramas on stage. It takes ordinary people a lifetime to experience their entire life, but I have lived a whole other life in a 1.5 hour dance drama. As a dance performer, I have experienced many people’s lives. Every time I dance in a drama, I express the character's personality, their life, and how I interpret their life, and I hope the audience can feel the character’s life as an experience in the same way.
There are things that you yourself need to feel first before you can let other people feel them.
What advice would you give your younger self when you were first entering the dance industry?
Be thorough, patient and always remember why you started. There will always be ups and downs, so when you are in a difficult position, you must ask yourself why you started learning dance, and why do you dance? When you encounter adversities, you will know how to persevere. Patience means that when you encounter difficult times, you must first settle down, reserve yourself quietly, and wait patiently for someone who is able to recognise your talent to appear. When the opportunity comes, you can face it calmly and steadily.
What are you most excited about for HKDC’s 40th season?
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Hong Kong Dance Company, therefore every program has been meticulously planned and designed, I am really looking forward to each program. For instance, Shan Shui: An Ode to Nature is very distinctive, it features dancers transforming their bodies into brushes, ink and strokes with a touch of martial arts. It is a brilliant piece by our Artistic Director Yang Yuntao.
Waiting Heart is another captivating performance which effortlessly combines Cantonese opera, Chinese music and dance.
City to City: Rediscovery is a production that brings elite choreographers and dancers together from Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong. So I can’t wait to see the sparks of ingenuity that develop through this collaboration.
Nezha: A Banished Prince, is a grand dance drama based on the Chinese mythology novel The Creation of the Gods, is another great piece by our Artistic Director that is not to be missed. Everyone is familiar with the story of Nezha as it has been the subject of many
Another piece that I am looking forward to is Nine Songs by the renowned choreographer Helen Lai. I have seen Nine Songs several times before. I personally admire the work, and this time I’ll have the opportunity to participate in it, which is even more exciting!
Celebrating 40 years of culture, dance and transformation, Hong Kong Dance Company constructs part of this city’s illustrious identity. And what makes this company, are the dancers, their stories, their artistry and their love of movement. As we embark on this year of digital dance and the rarity of live performances, let’s show our support for these artists and the colour they bring to the stage.