The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented in memory of Carl Wolz (1932-2002), whose career covered every aspect of dance, from performer and choreographer to scholar and educator and whose pioneering work helped to lay the foundations of dance in Hong Kong. His leadership, vision and passion have inspired countless dancers, choreographers, and educators worldwide and his legacy continues to resonate within the international and regional dance communities. He came to Hong Kong in 1982 to advise on the establishment of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and in 1983 became the first Dean of Dance. During his ten years at the Academy he was an inspiration and a role model for faculty and students alike. As an educator, his contributions to curriculum development and interdisciplinary approaches have left an enduring impact on dance education not only here, but globally. A passionate advocate of the power of dance to transcend boundaries and bring people together, he was Founder President of the Asia-Pacific Dance Alliance, which has been integral in connecting artists and institutions across the region, fostering unity and innovation in the dance community. A key focus of his legacy was bridging Eastern and Western dance traditions, celebrating the diversity of Asia-Pacific dance cultures while ensuring their relevance in the global dance narrative. This year, when the Awards celebrate Legacy & Heritage and the Hong Kong Dance Alliance marks its 30th anniversary, is the perfect occasion to recognize Carl Wolz’s lifelong contributions to the field of dance, particularly his efforts to promote and develop dance in the Asia-Pacific region and in Hong Kong itself.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Choreography is presented to Hu Song-wei Ricky and Mai Jingwen for The Butterfly Lovers. Hu Song-wei Ricky and Mai Jingwen have created a new version of this seminal Chinese story which brings out all its humour, pathos and power and is full of subtle narrative touches. The choreography is intensely musical, ingeniously merges classical ballet technique with elements of Chinese dance and is distinguished by numerous duets full of intricate, strikingly original lifts. The superbly staged group sequences are equally accomplished and impressively diverse, ranging from the restrained grace of young ladies learning etiquette to the brutality of a band of murderous thugs.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Large Venue Production is presented to Hong Kong Ballet for The Butterfly Lovers. The Butterfly Lovers is a triumph for Hong Kong Ballet, a major new full-length work which is engaging, moving and compelling throughout. It offers a fresh, innovative narrative approach to an iconic story, inventive choreography that blends classical ballet and Chinese dance technique to excellent effect and superb performances by the entire cast, principals and corps de ballet alike. The production is a feast for both the ears and the eyes, with a memorably melodic score and dazzling set, costume, lighting and video designs.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Medium Venue Production is presented to City Contemporary Dance Company for Living UP/噏 to Death. Living UP/噏 to Death offers brilliantly inventive use of multi-media, combining dance, installations, text, lighting, video and electronic music into a single, stunning performance. The stage at FreeSpace was transformed into an experimental field where life and death were examined. The production presents a series of stories which, starting from the body, explore these profound issues while also touching on the themes of time and separation.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Small Venue Production is presented to Common Ground for Imagined Altar. Imagined Altar transformed the Kwai Tsing Black Box Theatre into a celebration of the rituals and spirit of diverse cultures. After an introduction using text and props, four distinctive types of ethnic dance were presented as consecutive solos, followed by the dancers joining together for a thrilling ensemble finale. The audience was free to move around, allowing them to see the dancers up close and immerse themselves in the performance. A highly original, unusual concept, executed with energy, passion and skill.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Small Venue Production is presented to Tai Kwun and Unlock Dancing Plaza for Memory Trace of Western Chamber. It’s no mean feat to make a one hour solo piece compelling throughout and Memory Trace of Western Chamber succeeds triumphantly. Choreographer Ong Yong Lock takes a splendidly eclectic, irreverent approach to The Romance of the Western Chamber. Changes of mood and scene are achieved to great effect through the use of simple props to create a work which is consistently inventive, intelligent and lively. Any solo piece depends above all on the performer and Elsie Chau Kam Ngai is dazzling – funny, touching and thrilling by turns, she lights up the stage and captivates the audience.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer is presented to Luo Fan in As If Snowing. Luo Fan’s return to Hong Kong from his career in Europe showed how this outstanding artist has developed and marked an inspiring exploration of new possibilities in Sang Jijia’s choreography for City Contemporary Dance Company. Luo performed with maturity, expertly using his body to express the balance between helplessness and control. On the minimalist stage, his dynamic flipping and manoeuvring of an air mattress contrasted with Qiao Yang’s steady support, symbolizing their shared journey of rediscovery. Together, Luo, Qiao and Kelvin Mak formed a trio which embodied resilience and courage, navigating life’s uncertainties with profound connection and mutual inspiration.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer is presented to Xuan Cheng as Zhu Yingtai in The Butterfly Lovers. Xuan Cheng’s performance as China’s most iconic romantic heroine, Zhu Yingtai, demonstrated her command of the stage and ability to combine flawless technique with heartfelt acting. Her multi-faceted portrayal brought Zhu to life and immersed the audience in her journey from an eager, naïve young girl, with charming touches of humour, through the discovery of life and love, to the searing emotional power of the final denouement. Her dancing was light, precise and musical and her glorious fluidity of movement made the duets with Liang Shanbo especially beautiful.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance is presented to Hong Kong Ballet for The Butterfly Lovers. Hong Kong Ballet’s dancers do a magnificent job in The Butterfly Lovers, dancing with passion, precision and commitment. Their success in mastering the elements of Chinese dance incorporated in the choreography, demanding technique and style radically different from their own training, was admirable. Impressively, the principal roles of Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo were danced by three different couples, all producing performances of the highest calibre while the corps de ballet were equally convincing as decorous young ladies, villagers celebrating a festival or a bunch of unruly students. A particular standout was the chilling sequence where thugs terrorise Zhu and murder Liang, performed with exemplary power and intensity by the company’s men.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Lighting Design is presented to Yeung Tsz-yan for The Legend of Lanling. Yeung Tsz-yan’s masterly lighting design for The Legend of Lanling is not only visually stunning but plays an essential role in the drama. Yeung enhances the sombre mood of this powerful piece and focuses the audience’s attention at key points with consummate skill. The use of shafts of light from above, reminiscent of the sun through clouds, is strikingly effective, particularly when Lanling is left alone in the centre of the stage, struggling with his inner demons, after he has triumphed in battle.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Costume & Set Design is presented to Tim Yip for The Butterfly Lovers. Tim Yip’s designs for The Butterfly Lovers are imbued with his profound knowledge of Chinese art and culture, while remaining utterly modern in their ingenuity and creative use of technology.The costumes vividly evoke ancient China yet are perfectly adapted to dance, leaving the dancers freedom of movement and enhancing the lines of their bodies. Adopting a semi-abstract approach, Yip eschews conventional scenery, instead deploying twelve huge screens which glide around the stage to create different settings, while the bridge on which the lovers meet and part is used to stunning effect.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Music Composition is presented to Tian Mi for The Butterfly Lovers. Tian Mi’s magnificent score is one of the most important factors in making The Butterfly Lovers such an outstanding production. He demonstrates admirable skill and assurance in driving the narrative with a score that evokes the different characters, moods and situations, leading us into the heart of the story. His music is melodic, varied, full of emotion and, crucially, is expertly crafted for the needs of dance. The classic theme from the celebrated Butterfly Lovers violin concerto is incorporated with intelligence and subtlety to heighten key moments.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Alternative Space Production is presented to the Hong Kong Expressive Arts Therapy Service Centre for its Expressive Arts Therapy Oriented Theatre and creative workshop - Closure. This transformative event utilized the former West Point Chinese Public Dispensary as an environmental theatre, creating a safe space for exploration and expression. The tranquil ambiance of the historic architecture, combined with the artistic expression of the performers, facilitated a timeless journey, allowing participants to find profound and fulfilling closure to life’s unfinished chapters. By bridging past and present through the medium of dance, “Closure” initiated important conversations around mental health and the therapeutic potential of the arts, leaving a lasting legacy within the community.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Alternative Space Production is presented to Y-space for its i-Dance Festival 2024 - Dancing All Around Chuen Lung”. Since its inception in 2009, various topic has explored, last year focused on Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong's highest mountain, by transforming community and public spaces into dynamic performance venues through site-specific dance. Supported by the Hong Kong International Photo Festival, this outdoor project significantly impacts the dance community by fostering collaboration among local and international artists. It invites audiences to engage with the cultural richness of Chuen Lung, strengthening community ties and enhancing appreciation for the arts in public spaces.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Community Dance is presented to Passoverdance Limited for its 18dART Community Arts Scheme - Tsuen Wan 2024-25 Dance Up Hi! IV Contemporary Dance Project. This year-long initiative in Tsuen Wan offers a comprehensive series of dance trial classes, workshops, demonstration tours, rehearsals, and performances, complemented by an exhibition. By fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of dance art among children and youth, and by creating opportunities for local community participation in artistic activities, Passoverdance exemplifies outstanding dedication to enhancing the cultural fabric of the community.

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Services to Dance is presented to LittleUrbanMountain Design and Collab Bazaar for Noon Disco. This heartwarming project addresses the loneliness and isolation felt by many of Hong Kong’s elderly, especially since the pandemic, when restrictions kept them from going out.A community centre transformed into a glittering disco, complete with mirror balls, takes seniors back to their young days and allows them to rediscover the sheer joy of dancing, letting themselves go and moving their bodies to music. Noon Disco is a great example of the healing and freeing power of dance – and a great way for elderly people who feel left behind by society to socialise and have fun.