聚焦
Take in the World as Much as You Can, While You Can
陳紹傑
2013年12月17日
Guest lecturer of Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Founder of Billy Chan Dance Concepts
Billy Chan Siu-kit is destined to go into dance. When he was a young man in his early 20s, he enrolled into a short course in modern dance as a diversion from a regular office job. At the end of it, he received a call from the yet-to-open Academy for Performing Arts asking if he would be interested to apply for a place to the dance programme. The campus was yet to be built and Chan remembered checking out the construction site where the campus is now. Despite everything, Chan decided to enroll in the programme and became the first of dance students with specialization in Chinese dance.
Chan remembered with fondness the four years he spent at the Academy when he was fascinated by what was in store for him : excellent teachers, brand-new facilities, new knowledge and most of all, the passion for dance that is shared among his friends.
Through the years and surviving occasional injuries, Chan has been active in the profession as performer and choregrapher, joining the companies on tours and winning many awards. He also sits on the judges panel of many local competitions organized by the government, the community and private organizations. He has been guest lecturer of the Academy since 1997 and he sees his role as both teacher and mentor. He always asks students to widen their scope instead of just focusing on their skills, and to think of their higher aspirations. “There is so much to learn outside of your chosen field – there is a limit to what the body can do so take in the world as much as you can, while you can,” Chan said.
Considering Chan is schooled in Chinese dance, he has expanded his scope into what is considered non main-steam : hip-hop. Chan feels great empathy for the culture of the art-form as a genre of dance that requires as much skill as Chinese dance, modern dance or ballet; and he respects hip-hop dancers for their dedication to their art. He loves hip-hop for its creativity, spontaneity and that there is always a good vibe between the audience and the performers. He said there is certainly room for improvement in hip-hop dance in Hong Kong and he is making every effort to help promote the art : his dance school gives hip-hop classes and sponsors many competitions.
2013年12月17日
Guest lecturer of Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Founder of Billy Chan Dance Concepts
Billy Chan Siu-kit is destined to go into dance. When he was a young man in his early 20s, he enrolled into a short course in modern dance as a diversion from a regular office job. At the end of it, he received a call from the yet-to-open Academy for Performing Arts asking if he would be interested to apply for a place to the dance programme. The campus was yet to be built and Chan remembered checking out the construction site where the campus is now. Despite everything, Chan decided to enroll in the programme and became the first of dance students with specialization in Chinese dance.
Chan remembered with fondness the four years he spent at the Academy when he was fascinated by what was in store for him : excellent teachers, brand-new facilities, new knowledge and most of all, the passion for dance that is shared among his friends.
Through the years and surviving occasional injuries, Chan has been active in the profession as performer and choregrapher, joining the companies on tours and winning many awards. He also sits on the judges panel of many local competitions organized by the government, the community and private organizations. He has been guest lecturer of the Academy since 1997 and he sees his role as both teacher and mentor. He always asks students to widen their scope instead of just focusing on their skills, and to think of their higher aspirations. “There is so much to learn outside of your chosen field – there is a limit to what the body can do so take in the world as much as you can, while you can,” Chan said.
Considering Chan is schooled in Chinese dance, he has expanded his scope into what is considered non main-steam : hip-hop. Chan feels great empathy for the culture of the art-form as a genre of dance that requires as much skill as Chinese dance, modern dance or ballet; and he respects hip-hop dancers for their dedication to their art. He loves hip-hop for its creativity, spontaneity and that there is always a good vibe between the audience and the performers. He said there is certainly room for improvement in hip-hop dance in Hong Kong and he is making every effort to help promote the art : his dance school gives hip-hop classes and sponsors many competitions.
