Dance artists are the spiritual heart of any society, and a reflection of its value and beliefs, hopes and aspirations
Content of School Leaflet
The School of Dance is committed to ensuring that our young dance artists receive not only the highest quality professional education and training in Dance Performance and Choreography, but also develop a broader interest in the arts and cultural studies; appreciate the relationship of dance to the wider world around them; embrace developments in dance science and technology; are equipped with entrepreneurial skills; and become articulate and intelligent advocates for their art form.
All of our dance programmes are stimulating, forward-looking, highly integrated and align with the highest international standards in dance education and training. By virtue of the School’s diverse dance styles, scientific and technological integration, and our East-West educational, cultural and artistic nexus, our programmes are unique among dance conservatories around the world.
Students have the opportunity to develop not only the skills and attributes needed to become professional dance artists and cultural leaders, but also creative, intelligent and independent-thinking dance artist-scholars who have a passion for knowledge and deep understanding of their art form, and its relationship to other disciplines and the world beyond.
Distinguished Faculty
The professional teaching team of the School consists of artists and arts educators from all over the world. They all attained remarkable recognitions, academic achievements and awards in their areas of specialties. Numerous internationally acclaimed artists are invited to be Artist-in-Residence and visiting artists each year and host the master classes for our students.
World-class facilities
World-class facilities comprise eleven dance studios, the largest of which is also utilised as a performing space. In addition, there is a Dance Science Lab, a Dance & Technology Studio, a body conditioning studio, physiotherapy clinic, classrooms, dance computer labs and a library housing Hong Kong’s most complete dance collection.
Artist/ Entrepreneur Training
To reflect the demands of the profession/industry, the programmes include preparation not only for company-based careers, but also for multiple-portfolio careers, with a consequent emphasis on the development of independence, initiative, creativity, versatility, adaptability and a wide range of interconnected, transferable knowledge and 21st century skills that make a lifelong and sustainable career.
Visiting Artists
Many local and international choreographers contribute to the School’s productions annually. From 2018 to 2024, invited choreographers include Jonathan Watkins, Rick Nodine, Malgorzata Dzierzon, Alexander Whitley, Akram Khan, Mickael ‘Marso’ Riverie (UK); Xing Liang, Yuri Ng, Septime Webre, Yang Yuntao, Ricky Hu (Hong Kong); Sang Jijia, Yan Hongxia, Yan He (Mainland China), Kuik Swee Boon (Malaysia), Christian Rizzo, Ola Maciejewska (France), Christina Mertzani (Greece), Jorge Jauregui Allue (Spain), Judith Sánchez Ruíz (Germany), Tim Podesta, and Stephanie Lake (Australia).
Masterclasses and workshops for the School from 2018 to 2024 were conducted by international guest artists Julio Bocca (Argentina), Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Anouk van Dijk and Ruochen Wang (Netherlands), Alan Lucien Øyen (Norway), Yannick Boquin and Xavier Le Roy (France), Justin Peck, Diana White and Paul Boos (US), Rianto (Indonesia), Antoine Vereecken of Studio Wayne McGregor and Alexander Whitley (UK), Fiona Tonkin, David McAllister, Liesel Zink (Australia), Christian Mio Loclair and Raphael Hillebrand (Germany), Mário Radačovský (Czech Republic) and local veteran choreographers and artists Pun Siu-fai, Ong Yong-lock, Abby Chan, Yeung Wai-mei, Mui Cheuk-yin, Pewan Chow, Maurice Lai, Scarlet Yu, Wong Chi-yung, Noel Pong, Chong Chan-po, Mao Wei and Paul Lee.
The School also organised its annual Dean’s Special Artist Series since 2018 by inviting distinguished guest speakers who are making an impact on dance and performing arts industries to share their illuminating insights, practical tools and personal stories on how to shape an artistic work or arts-related career in the 21st century.
Partnership, Overseas & Greater Bay Area Performance
The School actively collaborates with major festivals and organisations around the world. The events include a three-year broad-based collaboration with the Hong Kong Ballet; a joint educational performance with the Hong Kong Dance Company in Macau; performances in the City Contemporary Dance Festival, the Jumping Frames International Dance Video Festival, New Vision Festival, HDX Festival and Le French May Festival; an MoU signed with the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority; participation in the Camping event held by Centre National de la Danse in Paris and Taipei; performance in the ImPulsTanz Festival in Vienna; internship at Akram Khan Company, participation in National Exhibition of Culture and Arts Vocational Schools' International Exchange and Collaboration Achievements in Shenzhen and the Cross-strait and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Postgraduate Students Academic Forum, performance tours to major cities in Mainland China including Greater Bay Area and other places like Canada, France, Germany, Malaysia, Mongolia, Taiwan, and the US.
For the past years, the School of Dance has contributed to the remarkable growth in dance activities in Hong Kong and the region. Many of the recipients of the Hong Kong Dance Awards and the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards are the School’s graduates, further demonstrating our pivotal role that dance plays in Hong Kong and on the global stage.
Our graduates are regularly invited to join Hong Kong’s three flagship dance companies, namely, the Hong Kong Ballet, the Hong Kong Dance Company and the City Contemporary Dance Company, and many more overseas companies in Europe, the US, Asia and Mainland China. Hong Kong Disneyland has offered employment opportunities for a large number of dancers since its establishment in 2005. Many of our students also develop a portfolio career, engaging in research and creative projects, concerts, educational programmes, teaching and work in the entertainment and commercial industries.
Master of Fine Arts in Dance
Major Study
> Choreography
> Dance Pedagogy
> Dance Science
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in Dance
Major Study
> Dance Performance (Ballet / Chinese Dance / Contemporary Dance)
> Choreography
Diploma in Dance Foundations
(Feeder Programme to Undergraduate Programme)
Professional Diploma in Dance
Major Study
> Dance Performance (Ballet / Chinese Dance / Contemporary Dance)
Programme Enquiry: (852) 2584 8541 | dance.da@hkapa.edu