Dance is like a magic show with one’s body. The audience like to follow and move. Stand-up comedy is like a magic show with one’s mouth . Laughter from the audience will be the definitive answer as to whether the comedian fails or succeeds. The ambitious dancer in Hong Kong Yang Hao (楊浩) has been working for years to combine dance and stand-up comedy together. The end quality is never an accident, but the result of his endless experiments and laborious work.
In 1986, Yang was born in the city of Chongqing, China. He joined the Song and Dance Arts School in Beijing in 1998. In 2007, he received a scholarship from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts to study a master degree in choreography. Yang later became a resident artist in Yale University in USA. His fit body is as flexible as a snake, and through his artistry and grace,there comes into existence the glitter of a great dancer.
Yang said, “As we all know, the career of a dancer can be short. I always ask myself: what can I do while my body is fit and pliable? How can I stand out when our profession is competitive? Maurice, did you remember many years ago, we had a chat? You told me that fusion of art forms may be a practical power source for the art scene of Hong Kong. So, I have been mulling over it again and again. Now, I am happy that whenever people think of dance and stand-up comedy, they think of me!” I laughed, “I would like to coin a term for what you are doing: ‘dance-up comedy’! You are the first one in Hong Kong to do it and I am the first person to say it!”
His series of works, Legend of Hao Hao (浩浩傳奇) blending stand-up comedy and dance, toured many cities in Asia. In 2023, he earned a Master of Fine Arts from the City University of Hong Kong on performing arts and technology.
Yang said, “As I get more confident about what I am doing, I try to integrate more interesting factors into my performance. They are such as surprising stage objects and props, displaying a film or image onto a screen, drama and acting elements, and finally music.” I replied, “I recently watched your show in the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre in Shek Kip Mei. I was totally overwhelmed with joy and your inspiring thoughts. I was just annoyed by a young lady sitting next to me who kept sending messages throughout the performance. I asked her to discontinue and she even cursed me. It shows the lack of public morality of some people in Hong Kong.”
Yang has a Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and international background, The “dance-up comedy” of what he is doing is extremely unique and special. I believer with certainty that one day, he will be tantamount to a superstar in the world of dance in Asia!
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