Where Magic Meets Dance: An Interview with Hong Kong Disneyland Dancers
Wherever you go in this eclectically vibrant city, you can be sure that there’s dance just around the corner. It can even be found where classic cartoon characters come to life and thrilling rides await your ticket at Hong Kong Disneyland!
Ever wondered what kinds of dance styles Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL) dancers have to perform, or what a day in their shoes might look like? Well, look no further, as we’ve interviewed dancers Junko Otsuki and Kiichi Yoshida about their wonderful world of dance at Disney!
They are no strangers to the Disneyland dance scene, both Junko and Kiichi previously worked as performers at the Tokyo Disney Resort for several years before relocating here to perform at HKDL. Their backgrounds in dance and musical theatre make them the perfect fit for HKDL’s big stage!
Which show are you performing in and preparing for now?
K.Y.: Both Junko and I are now performing in Mickey and the Wondrous Book, and I am also working on the new Frozen show which is exclusively for Magic Access members.
What’s your favourite part about performing in these shows?
J.O.: I remember one of our first performances just after the reopening, and I could see some guests with tears in their eyes because they were just so excited to see the show and be back here enjoying the Disney experience. This is the best type of motivation I can get, where I can see my work having a positive emotional impact on our guests. It makes me so happy.
K.Y.: For me, my favorite part is when I enjoy myself and am able to connect with the audience. Sometimes I even get feedback from guests that they really enjoyed my performance or my energy, which makes it all worth it.
Even if I perform a show hundreds of times, there may be guests who are only experiencing that show for the first time in their life. So it’s important to always give it your best, make every moment special, and not to take any shortcuts.
What does a regular work day look like for you?
J.O.: We have training every day before and between shows, and during our downtime we need to make sure we’re staying fit and well trained. Sometimes we will choreograph our own dance pieces during our breaks and put them together for fun! It’s a way for us to keep good relationships with each other but also keep our skills and practice new ones at the same time.
Sometimes during our lunch break, I will teach some Japanese to other members of the group, just as they will help us improve our English.
There is a big difference between performing in normal shows and performing in shows at HKDL. Here, you can be up close and interactive with guests and see their reactions, which makes it more of a magical moment compared to other performances.
Another difference is the type of shows we need to learn here. We have theatre shows, stage shows, parades, musicals, and everything to suit
different dance styles. It means there are more opportunities for us to grow and please the guests!
Every working day is an opportunity for us all to learn new things from each other and meet people that we wouldn’t normally meet in everyday life. Our entertainment team consists of performers from Hong Kong, mainland China, the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia, the UK, the US and more, so it’s a really diverse mix of cultures.
What is the most challenging part of performing?
K.Y.: There are a lot of different dance styles you can learn while working at Disney, from Bollywood in The Jungle Book performances, to Arabian dances in the Aladdin performances, along with the likes of ballet, jazz, hip hop and contemporary. It’s important to make sure you’re maintaining your skills within the different types of dance styles, because our shows really vary and we need to be capable in all of them.
When I first moved here, I found it very difficult because I couldn’t speak any English at all. I started slowly learning some key words and phrases from my friends to help me out, which made it much easier to communicate at work instead of relying on a translation app.
I didn’t see the language barrier as a major problem, because I treated it more like a fun challenge to push myself and learn something new. And I knew my dance partners would be patient and understanding
as I learned along the way.
It’s a chance for us to bond with each other and it reminds us that even though we come from different backgrounds or cultures, we are all still part of the same team and have a common goal. We’re like a family.
J.O.: Moving from ballet to musical theatre was not too challenging for me, because ballet is one of the basic forms of dance. The dance skills that I acquired made it easier for me to learn new styles for our performances. But apart from dancing, I wanted to challenge myself with singing too, which was very new to me but allowed me to expand my horizons into more opportunities.
Top 3 HKDL Audition Attributes!
1. Energy
2. Positivity
3. Commitment
So there you have it! Every dancer experiences magical moments in their dance career, and for some, that might include an extra bit of Disney magic! Whether you’re interested in watching the dance shows at Hong Kong Disneyland, or want to join the dancers on stage as a cast member, Junko and Kiichi’s tips will get you started!