i-Dance (HK) Festival 2024

Message from the Director

2024’s “I, Ai, Aye, ‘Love’!” – Dance Festival

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the i-Dance Festival. Looking back to 2004, a group of independent dance artists, including myself, Victor Ma, Fong Chun-kwan, and Yue Yan-wah, boldly organized the first i-Dance Festival in Hong Kong with self-funding. Although the festival only lasted two days, it became a hot topic in the city. Even though it didn’t continue for several years afterward, it planted the seeds for the i-Dance Festival’s future.

Five years later, “Multi-Space” courageously took the baton in 2009, continuing the festival. Over the past 20 years, i-Dance Festival has had its ups and downs. In 2009, due to limited funding, “Multi-Space” started with “solo and improvisation” performances, aiming to showcase diverse artistic talents while keeping production costs low. That year, we invited Ku Ming-shen to join the festival in Hong Kong. Unexpectedly, it ignited enthusiasm in Taiwan, leading Ku’s dance company to start their own i-Dance Festival in 2011, where we were invited to perform.

In Taiwan, we met Celine, Bongho, Chico, and Shoko, who brought the fire to Japan and South Korea. Together, we eventually formed the Asian network of the i-Dance Festival! From 2012 to 2019, we organized ten festivals in Hong Kong, sharing resources and ideas with our counterparts in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Over the years, we’ve become close friends. Now in 2024, the 11th edition of the festival marks a deeply inspiring journey.

From self-funding the festival 20 years ago to doing it again this year, it feels like we’ve come full circle. After two decades, we still have to reach into our own pockets to make the festival happen. Many people exclaim, “Victor, you must be crazy!” And yes, we are crazy—crazy enough to go all out for the festival. As I write this message at 2 a.m., we just wrapped up a virtual production meeting to discuss technical stage details. During the day, we were cleaning and furnishing accommodations for overseas artists arriving in a few days—though their work visas haven’t yet been approved, driving us to near madness!

For i-Dance Festival, even those close to us haven’t had it easy. Family members’ cars, homes, time, and energy have all been roped into our efforts. It’s now 3 a.m., and we’re still in the office with pending insurance and endless tasks. Perhaps we’ll sleep here, as rehearsals begin at 9:30 a.m.! Yes, we are truly crazy!

At 60 years of age, while my peers plan retirement, save money, focus on health, or dream of traveling, I’ve thrown my savings into the i-Dance Festival. To outsiders, we must look utterly insane. Why do we do this? I have no clear answer. But I see many others around me who are equally “crazy”—crazy in their love for dance and art. They dance with passion, love watching others dance, and hope for a world where everyone dances with such fervor. Isn’t it wonderful to be occasionally “crazy”? After all, being crazy about dance is far better than being crazy about war.

In a 2016 director’s note, I wrote: “Where there is dance, walls will disappear, and wars will cease.” It’s now 2024, and the world is still rife with war. Are those who control the battlegrounds insane? I’d much rather see people dancing madly than slaughtering the defenseless.

I believe dance brings happiness, and I sincerely wish to spread this joy worldwide, especially in Hong Kong. I hope people can take a moment to dance, sing, and feel the happiness of life. In today’s Hong Kong, happiness is hard to come by. In 2024, Hong Kong has changed so much, but we still hope everyone can take time to care for themselves and find happiness.

This year’s festival theme focuses on mountains, emphasizing the preciousness of life, the beauty of nature, and the importance of physical and mental well-being. There are still many battles ahead for us to fight!

Pina Bausch once said: “Dance, dance, otherwise we are lost.”

Wishing all dance lovers health, happiness, and beauty.

Victor Ma
Artistic Director, i-Dance Festival
November 13, 2024