On January 4^th, the acclaimed dance drama "Wing Chun" made its highly anticipated debut at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, creating a lively atmosphere that attracted both local and international spectators. Wing Chun, the Chinese martial art, which originated in Foshan, Guangdong, has been on a remarkable journey. From gaining recognition at Bilibili's New Year's Eve Gala to touring in Singapore, gracing the stages at the Huabiao Film Awards and the National Grand Theatre, the dance drama "Wing Chun" is now making its mark in Hong Kong.

Praise from a diverse audience

Before the premiere even began, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts was thronged with people, including renowned Hong Kong actors such as Liza Wang Ming Chuen, Cecilia Ip, and Bak-Ming Wong.

"This is my first time witnessing Wing Chun presented in the form of dance, which is truly innovative," said Bak-Ming Wong, the producer of the four-part film series "Ip Man." He continued, "Wing Chun originates from Foshan, and Ip Man was from Foshan. Both Hong Kong and Foshan are integral parts of the Greater Bay Area, and we are one family. Being able to promote Wing Chun globally is not only an honor for the Greater Bay Area but also a source of pride for Hong Kong."

Gao Songjie, Vice Chairman of the Y. Elites Association and founder of the Net Influencers Association, attended the dance drama "Wing Chun" for the second time. Previously, he witnessed the 100^th performance of "Wing Chun" in Shenzhen. "After returning to Hong Kong, I have been eager for the opportunity to stage this production in Hong Kong. I promised to invite friends to watch, and it actually happened," said Gao Songjie. He also expressed anticipation for more mainland productions to be performed in Hong Kong, spreading more compelling Chinese stories to a global audience.

Wing Chun, originating from Foshan, has not only gained popularity in Hong Kong but has also made waves internationally. Martin Schwab, a Kung Fu enthusiast from Switzerland, and his colleagues discovered the performance in Hong Kong, despite having limited knowledge of Wing Chun before. After witnessing the dance drama, Schwab immediately felt the charm of Wing Chun and Chinese dance.

Wing Chun's global influence

Dong Chonghua, the inheritor of Wing Chun and a martial arts consultant for "Wing Chun," emphasized the significance of the drama's tour in Foshan, considering it a meaningful journey to trace the roots of this traditional martial art.

Over the past century, traditional martial arts, particularly Wing Chun, have taken root in the Lingnan region, gaining global recognition through films like those featuring Bruce Lee and Ip Man.

Dong Chonghua developed an interest in Wing Chun thanks to Bruce Lee. Even more fortuitously, he received personal instruction from Ip Man's eldest son, Ip Chun, and became his student to learn Wing Chun. Dong has achieved significant success in the world of Wing Chun, securing three World Wing Chun Championship titles and two International Wushu Federation's Wing Chun Championship titles. Not stopping at personal achievements, Dong has opened two martial arts schools to promote Wing Chun. His students range from young children in kindergarten to seniors in their golden years, including individuals from Europe, South Asia, and other regions.

According to Dong Chonghua, Wing Chun has emphasized practical combat since its inception, a crucial factor contributing to its successful development abroad. In his teaching process, Dong has incorporated additional movement combinations into the traditional routines, making the martial art both stylish and visually appealing. In terms of practical application, he believes that Wing Chun inheritors should be acquainted with popular modern combat sports globally and adapt corresponding techniques for effective defense and offense.

Integration of dance and martial arts

The dance drama "Wing Chun" is a groundbreaking production that seamlessly combines the elements of dance and martial arts, presenting the essence of Wing Chun through the beauty of dance. This unique fusion accentuates its bold, beautiful, and elegant qualities, propelling Wing Chun into a modern and trendy sphere. Chen Jianzhong, one of the first specially appointed commentators by the Chinese Federation of Literary and Art Circles, praised the production as a high-quality work with a Southern cultural essence, achieved through the combination of an excellent theme, a top-tier team, and effective outreach beyond traditional boundaries.

Martial arts advisor Dong Chonghua believes that the amalgamation of Wing Chun and dance, as well as the fusion of traditional martial arts with modern aesthetics, serves to introduce Wing Chun to a broader audience and cultivate a love for Chinese martial arts. During the creative process, Dong Chonghua worked closely with the main cast, guiding them through fundamental movements and teaching them the essence of "Sanquan Yizhuang" (three kinds of punches and one wooden dummy), emphasizing how to showcase the style and techniques of sparring more effectively and aesthetically, capturing the true essence of Wing Chun.

"These actors have a background in dance and possess a certain level of proficiency. They enhance the movements with dance characteristics, achieving a balance between martial arts' strength and flexibility, coupled with the expressive power of dance. The visual impact is outstanding," remarked Dong Chonghua.

Lan Haihong, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center, noted that the audience's positive reactions reflect not only the vitality of intangible cultural heritage showcased in the dance drama "Wing Chun" but also its ability to captivate the curiosity and interests of younger spectators. This, in turn, inspires more young people to develop an appreciation for excellent traditional Chinese culture, fostering their participation in the inheritance, protection, and development of intangible cultural heritage.

Source :Yangcheng Evening News

咏春出招，勇闯世界！

从B站跨年晚会出圈，到新加坡巡演出海；从亮相华表奖现场，到登上国家大剧院舞台。舞剧《咏春》在海内外名声大噪。1月4日，舞剧《咏春》在香港演艺学院进行香港首演，现场热闹非凡，中外观众云集，人人都想一睹这部现象级舞剧的风采。

咏春拳发祥于广东佛山，从佛山到香港再到全世界，勇闯世界的咏春为何如此火爆？

中外观众好评如潮

1月4日晚，《咏春》香港首演还未开始，香港演艺学院已是人山人海，汪明荃、叶童、黄百鸣等著名香港演员也纷纷到场“尝鲜”。

“这是我第一次看到以舞蹈的形式展现咏春拳，非常新颖。”黄百鸣是电影《叶问》四部曲的监制，他说，“咏春来自佛山，叶问是佛山人。香港和佛山都是粤港澳大湾区的一部分，我们是一家人。能够将咏春在全世界发扬光大是粤港澳大湾区的荣幸，也是香港的骄傲。”

香港菁英会副主席、香港网络红人工作者协会创会主席高松杰是第二次看舞剧《咏春》。此前，他在深圳观看了舞剧《咏春》的第100场演出。“回到香港后，我就一直想，如果香港有机会上演这个剧目，我一定邀请朋友一起来看，结果真的来了。”高松杰还期待更多内地作品在香港演出，将更多中国好故事传播到全球。

来自瑞士的马丁·施瓦布先生是中国功夫迷，他与工作伙伴一同来到香港，偶然间了解到舞剧《咏春》在香港演出。尽管此前对咏春了解不多，但施瓦布看过舞剧后，立刻感受到了咏春拳和中国舞蹈的魅力。

咏春拳流播海内外

咏春拳叶问宗支非遗传承人董崇华是舞剧《咏春》的武术顾问。此前《咏春》到佛山演出，反响热烈。在他看来，习武之人向来有寻根的传统，舞剧《咏春》来到咏春拳的发祥地佛山巡演，也相当于一次“寻根”，意义非凡。

百余年来，以咏春拳为代表的传统武术在岭南大地生根发芽，李小龙及《叶问》《一代宗师》等电影更是助推咏春拳从岭南走向世界，从武术界走入大众视野。

董崇华因李小龙而迷上咏春拳。更幸运的是，他得到叶问长子叶准亲传，拜其为师学习咏春拳。董崇华拿下过三次世界咏春拳大赛冠军和两次国际武联咏春拳大赛冠军。他开设了两家武馆推广咏春拳，学生小到幼儿园孩子，大到年过古稀的老人，其中还包括来自欧洲、南亚等地的留学生。

董崇华说，咏春从诞生开始就讲究实战，这也是它在国外发展得非常好的重要原因之一。教学过程中，董崇华在传统套路基础上增加了一些动作组合，让这一拳法打得更帅更好看。实战方面，他认为咏春传承人应该了解国际上流行的现代搏击项目，找到相应的技巧方法去化解或攻防。

舞武融合

舞剧《咏春》是一部“舞武”跨界融合的剧，用舞蹈之美展现咏春之神韵，凸显其飒、美、雅，让咏春彻底“潮起来”。中国文联首批特约评论员陈建忠评价称，这部舞剧是一部“黄金题材+一流团队+出圈传播”共同完成的有岭南文化底色的高质量作品。

武术顾问董崇华认为，咏春与舞剧的结合、传统武术与现代审美的结合，能让更多人了解咏春，爱上中国武术。在创排期间，董崇华带着主演练习基本动作，教授他们三拳一桩（三拳指小念头、寻桥、标指，一桩指的是木人桩），并告诉演员如何将对打的风格、招式展示得更充分更好看，体现出“咏春的味道”。

“这些演员本身是舞蹈专业出身，有一定的基础，神形都很到位。他们会在动作中加强舞蹈特点，既有武术的刚柔并济，又有舞蹈的表现力，视觉效果非常好。”董崇华说。

广东省非遗保护中心副主任蓝海红评价，从受众反响来看，舞剧《咏春》不仅展现非遗活力，还抓住年轻观众的好奇心和兴趣点，吸引更多年轻人热爱中华优秀传统文化，带动更多年轻人参与非遗的传承、保护和发展。

文｜记者 付怡 周欣怡 朱绍杰 特约撰稿人 梁源