The Asia+ Festival, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will offer an exhilarating multi-media dance production, "We wear our wheels with pride", on October 18 and 19. The programme is created by Robyn Orlin, a renowned South African choreographer honoured with the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement, and performed by dancers of Moving Into Dance Mophatong, a flagship contemporary dance company, together with an electronic duo in South Africa. Featuring high-energy dance and a colourful stage, this piece pays homage to the Zulu rickshaw drivers who demonstrate resilience and creativity in adversity.
 
     Orlin is globally revered for her bold theatricality and concepts. Her work, "We wear our wheels with pride", has received widespread acclaim when staged in Europe. The programme is inspired by the rickshaw drivers once seen on the streets in South Africa who adorned themselves with tunics decorated with pearls and fringes, feathered headdresses and flamboyant cow horns. They painted their rickshaws with vibrant colours and pulled them with a bouncy, dance-like gait. Orlin reimagines the scenes on stage, captivating audiences with a stunning visual feast.
 
     Moving Into Dance Mophatong inherits Zulu traditions, with both body language and visual elements rooted in the tribe's heritage. Blending traditional and contemporary techniques, the dancers narrate the enduring history of Africa with powerful and fluid body movements. In the performance, dancers' silhouettes are instantly projected onto giant screens, morphing into swirling, multi-coloured hues that reflect the Rainbow Nation's spirit.
 
     The live music is created by two South African musicians Annalyzer (Anelisa Stuurman) and Yogin Sullaphen, who fuse Khoisan chants and slam poetry with electronic beats, hip hop and Afrofusion, evolving into a unique soundtrack that perfectly complements the visuals.
 
     "We wear our wheels with pride" will be held at 8pm on October 18 and 3pm on October 19 at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre Theatre. Tickets priced at $360 and $480 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288, or use the mobile ticketing app "URBTIX".
 
     The programme contains strobe lighting effects. Songs will be performed in IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Sesotho and English. Audience members may be filmed, and the footage will be used as part of the performance. A meet-the-artist session will be held after the performance on October 18.
 
     In addition, an outreach performance by dancers of Moving into Dance Mophatong will be held on October 17 at 7.30pm at the Main Entrance, 1/F, Central Market. Admission is free. A dance and music workshop will also be held at 8pm on the same day at the Rehearsal Hall, 7/F, Sheung Wan Civic Centre. The ticket price is $220. For details, please refer to www.asiaplus.gov.hk/2025/en/wwowwp.
 
     The Asia+ Festival is held annually from September to November with the aim of creating a sustainable platform for arts and cultural exchange. While focusing on Asia, the Festival also connects with Belt and Road countries and regions in Europe, Africa and the Americas. Now in its third edition, artists from more than 30 countries and regions, including 12 new participating countries, will take part in the Festival, featuring over 100 performances and activities. Apart from stage programmes, there are also an outdoor carnival, a thematic exhibition, workshops, a backstage tour, masterclasses, talks, outreach performances and more. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.asiaplus.gov.hk.

Ends/Friday, September 26, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:00

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