Tai Kwun - Centre for Heritage and Arts Presence
Commissioned by Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts (Hong Kong)
Concept, Director, Composer & Musician / WAN Xing
Contemporary Dance / Natalie MAK
Tap Dance / Eric HUYNH
DP & Editing / Thomas WONG
Lighting design / Victor WONG
・Duration：approximately 15 minutes
Life is a constant change. We cannot change the past nor predict the future, whether in the fortune or the adverse, we can only live in the moment and gain the peace of mind.
A contemporary dancer is injured and can no longer dance freely. A tap dancer has lost all performance opportunities due to the pandemic. They are each facing a struggle of their own, but the sorrow is the same. What confines our mind is not the challenges we face, but how we weigh these difficulties and allow them to burden ourselves.
Focus on the present and listen deeply. Embrace and release.
Main Creator
Concept & Director & Composer & Musician／Wan Xing
I have always believed that life is a journey of ups and downs. These experiences become the inspirations of artistic creations, be it in music or words, they will embody life and capture the present in its originality.
Presence is an important milestone in my music and artistic journey. Through the lens of contemporary dance, tap dance and original music, the work reflects the hardship and challenges faced by artists during the pandemic. It also echoes the fact that while the past cannot be changed and the future cannot be predicted, living in the moment is how we can gain the peace of mind.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to dancers Natalie Mak and Eric Huynh, as well as the outstanding video team led by Thomas Wong for pouring their hearts and efforts to create this work together.
We also thank the commissioning and support of Tai Kwun. We look forward to sharing our humble work with audiences in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.
Wan Xing graduated with a Bachelor degree in Music from the Central Conservatory of Music in China. She continued her studies at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and received her master's degree. She also obtained a master's degree in Cultural Management from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Wan won numerous accolades including the Best Performance Award 2002 in the First Chinese Folk Instruments Competition organised by the Ministry of Culture, Gold Award (Young Performers Category) in the Second International Guzheng Competition 2011 and the Best Instructor Award 2013 in the Third International Zheng Contest. She also participated in other music activities including recording a demonstration DVD for the Central Conservatory of Music examination pieces, adjudicating the 32nct Macao Young Musicians Competition and the Second Hong Kong Students Open Music Competition. She has given classes at the Education University of Hong Kong recently.
Being a young artist and curator, Wan's music is often perceived as spiritual with oriental aesthetics, and is aligned with her idea of composition - simple and natural. She masters diversified music styles and crossovers with her zheng. In 2020, she was invited by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to compose for the Hong Kong Space Museum multimedia clip, the Tour de force - Museum x Performing Art: Origins. Her other new piece Aspiration is also invited as the designated music showcased at the Hong Kong Museum of Art "Honouring Tradition and Heritage: Min Qiu Society at Sixty" exhibition. In 2019, she was invited by Arpe del Mondo to hold concerts in Italy and as performing guest at the event's Opening Ceremony. Wan has been actively involved in musical performances and events of various natures and performed in a number of concerts including "Our Music Talents Series: Wan Xing Guzheng Recital" in 2017. She has cooperated with Hong Kong Dance Company at the Original Dance Poem Shan Shui: An Ode to Nature and Mindful Theatre Vipassana; Wuji Ensemble at Atmospheric Music Theatre Tranquil as a Chrysanthemum and Siinyata; world premiere of zheng pieces by renowned composer Law Wing-fai, namely La Blancheur and In Oneness.
Tap Dance: Eric Huynh
Eric Huynh graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), majoring in Musical Theatre Dance. He is the Founder of Musical Trio, local musical creative group in Hong Kong. Eric has attained the ISTD Intermediate Tap Certificate with distinction. During his program of study, he was awarded scholarships from the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation Scholarships and has performed on a study tour to Guang Zhou.
Eric was active in various genres of art groups. He was the performer for 3AMI, HKREP, HKDC, Theatre Noir, DanceArt, Actor Family, 7A drama group among others…Eric also has taught at numerous groups, including CCDC dance center, HKAPA EXCEL…Eric currently is freelance performer, choreographer and dance teacher.
Contemporary Dance: Natalie Mak
Natalie Mak is an independent dancer, choreographer and dance teacher. Mak is also a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance (500 hours) and certified Flyoga® instructor.
Mak studied Chinese Dance at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). Mak was awarded the Spring Time Stage Productions Scholarship and the Disney Scholarship twice.
Also, Mak was nominated for Hong Kong Dance Awards “Outstanding Performing Female Dancer '' in 2017.
Mak was a full-time dancer in the City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) during 2014 – 2020. Mak has worked with various renowned choreographers, including Kim Jaeduk (Korea), Sang Jijia (China), Helen Lai (Hong Kong), Kristina Chan (Australia) etc.
Mak recent choreographic works include: 1/2 TBC presented by Hong Kong Dance Alliance “New Force in Motion” Series (2021), Wandering Stone presented by CCDC Dancer Homework (2016).
Mak has also developed profound interests in Singing Bowl Therapy and Yoga in recent years. Mak wishes to merge dance with well-being awareness and spirituality, so as to promote a body-mind aligned aesthetic.
DP & Editing / Thomas WONG
Thomas Wong is the founder of TimeCapsule Storytelling Limited. He has become a professional videographer for five years and is always exploring new techniques. His past works include music videos, commercials, event, wedding and documentary filming. He participated in the filming of the grand opening of Rosewood Hotel and St. Regis Hotel. Apart from these, he is a regular collaborator with apparel brand MyAleshia and TVB artist Simon On Chun Ho.
Joshua Cheung graduated from the School of Creative Media of the City University of Hong Kong in 2020. He is a passionate and creative on photography. He has participated in numerous video productions and is experienced in post-production. His past works include “Heartstrings of the Guzheng”, “The Light of Metempsychosis”, “Orbit of the Bowl”, Ko Shan Theatre interviews, HSBC commercial, FWD Hong Kong x The World of Studio Ghibli’s Animation.
Lighting design: Victor WONG
Storytelling Limited partner. Past projects include HSBC commercial, featured interviews at Ko Shan Theatre, FWD X “The World of Studio Ghibli’s Animation” Experiential Zone.
Production Team
Commissioned by Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts (Hong Kong)
Concept, Director, Composer & Musician / WAN Xing
Contemporary Dance / Natalie MAK
Tap Dance / Eric HUYNH
Videographer & Post-production / Thomas WONG
Lighting design / Victor WONG
Best Boy Electric / Leung Kwok Pang
Drone Operator／Qoey Chan
Recording & Mixing／Chan Pui Ching
Boom Operator & Mixing／Albert Ho