In an eagerly awaited return to stage, seasoned dance artist Elsie Chau Kam Ngai is partnering with choreographer Ong Yong Lock to present the production Memory Trace of Western Chamber. Delving deep into her own past, Chau draws the audience into a soul-searching dance theatre performance through the lens of Cui Yingying, the central character of the Chinese classic Romance of the Western Chamber.
The newly commissioned dance piece shows Tai Kwun’s continuation of spotlighting established and renowned female dancers, having previously featured the likes of Mui Cheuk-yin and Gigi Yang. As the principal dancer of the Hong Kong Dance Company in the 1990s, Chau has flourished locally yet carries the indelible identity of an outsider. This paradox has motivated her to create this dance, using the feudal Western Chamber as the background.
The solo performance is equally dance spectacle and bringing on stage Chau’s own vignettes in life. As she embodies Cui, a fascinating literary heroine who defies social norms, Chau draws parallels with the character’s emotions as they forge their own paths through obstacles. Bolstered by text from dramaturge Mann Chan and lighting design by Lee Chi Wai, Memory Trace of Western Chamber not only showcases Chau’s dancing prowess, but also invites the audience to embark on a journey that summons old memories and finds new poignancy.
Memory Trace of Western Chamber: Date and time
- 8pm, 18 and 19 April
- 3pm, 20 April
Creative and production team
- Concept Creation and Performer: Elsie Chau
- Concept Creation and Choreographer: Ong Yong Lock
- Dramaturg and Playwright: Mann Chan
- Lighting Designer and Creative Support: Lee Chi Wai
- Produced by: Unlock Dancing Plaza
