The past year has been an extremely difficult year for the dance industry and even the entire Hong Kong entertainment industry. While the COVID-19 pandemic remains volatile, the dance industry is one of the first industries to be affected. Colleagues who engaged in dance production, performance, training or education field are all spared, and their work was almost completely stopped. At the first season of the year 2020, we conducted a member questionnaire survey. The results showed that 78% of the interviewees were self-employed. During the pandemic from January to March 2020, about 78% of the interviewees worked 10 hours or less per week. About 62.5% of the average monthly income fell below $5,000 or even zero income. This unprecedented situation is really heartbreaking.
With the frequent communication among the association, friends and colleagues in the industry and the government, it was fortunate that we all walked together hand in hand and fought hard to overcome difficulties. Furthermore, we convened dedicated dancers through our volunteer group, to collect masks and anti-epidemic supplies for our senior members, frontline janitors in Sham Shui Po District, Banyan Services Association and the solitary elderly with urgent needs accordingly. Although it might be a drop in the bucket, we sincerely hope to express our spirit of mutual help and love for our society.
Due to the social distancing and gathering regulations, most of our plans of the year have been postponed or cancelled. However, my team and I do not forget our missions and aspiration when we founded HKDPAA. “I can't change the direction of the wind, but i can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. ~ Jimmy Dean” . This is also an opportunity for us to deepen our understanding of the voices of different stakeholders, and to adjust our plans and goals. I strongly believe that as long as everyone unites the industry with the same values, actively seizes the opportunities of adversity together, and equips oneself the best for the coming challenges in the future, the shining and blooming scene on the stage will soon return!
Roy Chun
Chairman of 2018-2020, Director Board of HKDPAA
10th December, 2020
