Experience 'The Accountants': A Dazzling Dance and Technology Fusion at Asia+ Festival 2024 in Hong Kong

Asia+ Festival opens with visual spectacle "The Accountants" fusing dance with technology

Jointly created by a British cross-disciplinary artist, Chinese and Indian choreographers, together with a team of leading digital interaction and sound designers, "The Accountants" is an uplifting visual spectacle fusing dance with technology. The programme, to be held on September 27 and 28 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, will mark the beginning of the second Asia+ Festival presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

Keith Khan, Head of Culture of the 2012 London Olympics, has worked with a famous British fashion brand on a textile project for the city of Leeds. Xie Xin, a Chinese choreographer who rose to stardom after winning a Mainland dance contest, is hailed as "the ultimate in Chinese contemporary dance". She is also the first Mainland female choreographer who has received a commission from the Paris Opera. Indian choreographer Terence Lewis, active in Bollywood films and musicals, boasts multiple Guinness World Records and millions of followers on social media. Together with the Creative Head of the Terence Lewis Contemporary Dance Company, Mahrukh Dumasia, their works have toured many different countries to critical acclaim. "The Accountants" skilfully incorporates state-of-the-art visuals and everyday communication tools into dance. Audience members are welcome to arrive early to take part in some interactive trivia before the show begins.

"The Accountants" revolves around a young man with Chinese-British heritage and his Indian-British "aunt" who discuss these two cultures through instant messenger. On the same stage, accountants played by Chinese and Indian dancers are busy sifting through cluttered data, either competing or collaborating, as a huge screen spurts out facts behind them. Breathtaking dance, coupled with thought-provoking dialogue and stunning visual effects, adds up to an electrifying encounter between different cultures.

The Times newspaper from the United Kingdom described the programme as a "dazzling hybrid spectacle drawing together dance, text, digital imagery and jolting sound".

"The Accountants" is the opening programme of the Asia+ Festival 2024 and also a celebratory programme of the 35th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. It will be held at 7.30pm on September 27 and 28 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre. Tickets priced at $260, $360, $420 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 dialogues in English with Chinese and English surtitles. A meet-the-artist session will be held after the September 27 performance. The September 28 show is a performanceaccessible with audio descriptions and caption reading in Cantonese. There are also two dance workshops suitable for people aged 16 and above with some dance experience. For details, please refer to asiaplus.gov.hk/2024/en/the-accountants.

The second Asia+ Festival is running from September to November, highlighting the arts and culture of nearly 30 countries from Asia, the Middle East and Belt and Road regions. Apart from stage programmes, there are also thematic exhibitions, an outdoor carnival, film screenings, outreach activities and more, numbering over 100 in total. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit asiaplus.gov.hk/2024/en/.

Asia+ Festival opens with visual spectacle "The Accountants" fusing dance with technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asia+ Festival opens with visual spectacle "The Accountants" fusing dance with technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asia+ Festival opens with visual spectacle "The Accountants" fusing dance with technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asia+ Festival opens with visual spectacle "The Accountants" fusing dance with technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asia+ Festival opens with visual spectacle "The Accountants" fusing dance with technology Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Special traffic arrangements for race meeting in Happy Valley

Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley tomorrow (September 18). The arrangements will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

A. Traffic arrangements before the commencement of the first race

The following road closure and traffic diversions will be implemented from 50 minutes before the start of the first race for day racing, or from 6pm onwards for night racing:

1. Road closure

Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen’s Road East and the up-ramp outside the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be closed, except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel.

2. Traffic diversions

- Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the up-ramp outside the HKJC will be re-routed one way northbound;

- Traffic along eastbound Queen's Road East heading for Wan Chai and Happy Valley will be diverted to turn left to Morrison Hill Road;

- Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;

- Traffic along Queen's Road East cannot turn right to Wong Nai Chung Road, except for vehicles heading for Aberdeen Tunnel;

- Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Queen's Road East will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Morrison Hill Road to turn right at the junction of Wong Nai Chung Road and Queen's Road East; and

- Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley or Racecourse will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, southbound Morrison Hill Road, Sports Road and Wong Nai Chung Road.

B. Traffic arrangements before the conclusion of race meeting

The following road closure and traffic diversions will be implemented from about 35 minutes before the start of the last race:

1. Road closure

- The up-ramp on Wong Nai Chung Road outside the HKJC leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;

- Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Queen's Road East and the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel;

- Southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Village Road and the Public Stands of the HKJC;

- Westbound Leighton Road between Wong Nai Chung Road and Canal Road East; and

- Southbound Morrison Hill Road between Leighton Road and Queen's Road East.

In addition, southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between the up-ramp leading to Aberdeen Tunnel and the Public Stands of the HKJC will be closed from about 10 minutes before the start of the last race.

2. Traffic diversions

- Eastbound Queen's Road East at its junction with Morrison Hill Road will be reduced to one-lane traffic heading for northbound Canal Road flyover;

- Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, U-turn slip road beneath Canal Road flyover, Canal Road West and Hennessy Road;

- Traffic from Cross Harbour Tunnel heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via the down-ramp leading from southbound Canal Road flyover to Canal Road East, eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road;

- Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Leighton Road;

- Traffic along southbound Morrison Hill Road heading for Happy Valley will be diverted via eastbound Leighton Road and Wong Nai Chung Road; and

- Traffic along westbound Leighton Road will be diverted to Wong Nai Chung Road.

C. Learner drivers prohibition

Learner drivers will be prohibited to turn left from Caroline Hill Road to Leighton Road between one and a half hours before the start of the first race and one hour after the last race. In addition, learner drivers will be prohibited from accessing the following roads within the above period of time:

- Shan Kwong Road between Yik Yam Street and Wong Nai Chung Road;

- Village Road between its upper and lower junctions with Shan Kwong Road;

- Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road;

- Canal Road East; and

- The service road leading from Gloucester Road to Canal Road flyover.

D. Suspension of parking spaces

Parking spaces on southbound Wong Nai Chung Road between Sports Road and Blue Pool Road will be suspended from 11am to 7pm for day racing, and from 5pm to 11.59pm for night racing respectively.

All vehicles parked illegally during the implementation of the above special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.

Actual implementation of road closure and traffic diversion will be made by the Police at the time depending on traffic conditions in the areas. Motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of Police on site.

Source: AI-generated images