With one heart, 16 individuals dance in same steps and same rhythm with no leading and no secondary roles - that’s what makes formation Latin dance so unique. The "Dancehype" brings together eight of the finest Latin couples, setting aside their individual identities, aiming to contribute to the “WDSF  World Championship Adult Formation Latin” (the Event), which will be held for the first time in Hong Kong on 18 December at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai. The Event is one of the highlights of the “DanceSport Hong Kong Open 2023” running from 18-29 December 2023.

This groundbreaking participation is of great significance to Hong Kong danceSport world. Henry, who is both the instructor and dancer, started to select suitable dancers at the beginning of this year, and after half a year's training and two competitions, the eight couples are getting more mature and skillful. Henry said, "Hong Kong used to have only sporadic Latin formation competitions in the past. As far as world-class events are concerned, this is undoubtedly the highest level and most competitive one. I believe that after the Event in December, valuable experiences will linger in the Hong Kong dance field, and more formation teams will emerge in the future."

16 dancers with one heart in a formation team regardless of experience

Normally, when dancers compete individually, it's all about highlighting themselves and competing for the title. Tse Cheuk Hin, 23 years old, will be one of the first dancers to represent Hong Kong at the Event in December, perceives this experience profoundly. "Frankly speaking, we are quite selfish when we dance Latin. When we stand in the competition arena, we see ourselves as stars, the centre of attention while in formation dance, we have to put aside our individual star attributes, and integrate ourselves into the team regardless of who we are." he said.

"A foreign instructor once came to Hong Kong to teach us, and he described Latin formation as a machine with a bunch of cogs, and it can't be done without anyone, so there is no leader in formation dance, and every position is equally important," he said. Tse Cheuk-hin has been dancing with his partner, Tsui Hong-yu, for more than three years. Both of them have experience in local formation dance, but they share the same view that the World Championship is a very different level.  Both of them are looking forward to presenting a competitive Hong Kong formation team with a good stage presence.”

Both 17 years old, Ho Chin-pang and Cheung Yui-lan, are very fortunate to have been selected by Henry to be part of the team, and they consider it as a precious learning process. They said, "These months of training have been very rewarding. To be honest, formation dance is much more difficult than we imagined. The main challenge lies in each couple having their own unique style, yet having to perform in perfect unison with each other.”

"For younger dancers like us, working on formation dance with older teammates brings many benefits, and we also have the opportunity to exchange partners and learn from them." The young duo, who are still secondary school students, express openly their enjoyment in formation training and competitions and look forward to competing with world-class dancers in the World Championship.

Responsible for every aspect, from music, costumes, to choreography, Henry and his partner and wife, Yanise Choi, are one of the eight couples in the team. Talking about the characteristics of this Hong Kong formation team, Henry described it as a "fusion of the East and West", incorporating the traditional elements of Peking Opera and showcasing the diversified characteristics of Hong Kong. He hopes to present to the audience a Latin formation team that is unique and captivating in the six-minute competition. 

DanceSport Hong Kong Open 2023

Organised by: DanceSport Association of Hong Kong, China

Date: 18-29 December 2023

Venue: Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Ticketing: URBTIX (Sale date to be announced)

Event Highlights:

1) 18 December: WDSF World Championship Adult Formation Latin*

2) 20-26 December: DSA Asian Single Dance Championship*

3) 29 December: Hong Kong Senior Open Championship*

* Subvented by the Arts and Sport Development Fund from Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and supported by Leisure and Cultural Services Department