Starting today (3 July), The Hong Kong Jockey Club Presents: Dance Drama Cavalry will be staged for three consecutive days at The Hall, East Kowloon Cultural Centre. The performances form part of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s (the Club) Year of the Horse campaign. The Club is the sole sponsor of the production, organised by the Bauhinia Culture Group in Hong Kong. The Club’s support for the performance reflects its commitment to the 15th National Five-Year Plan’s emphasis to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. It also promotes outstanding traditional Chinese culture and advance arts development in the city.
Performed by actors from the Inner Mongolia Art Theatre, Cavalry is the first large-scale original dance drama in Chinese stage art history to focus on the cavalry. Through powerful and virgorous dance movements, it expresses patriotic sentiments and pays tribute to history’s indomitable cavalrymen and their horses. Supported by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR Government and the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, the dance drama is also included in the programme of this year’s Chinese Culture Festival and “Chinese Performing Arts Hong Kong Season” Series.
The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said the Club is honoured to sponsor a production included in the “Chinese Performing Arts Hong Kong Season” Series once again. By supporting outstanding national and local art troupes to perform in Hong Kong, the Club enables citizens and tourists to appreciate their top-rate productions, deepen their understanding of traditional Chinese dance, and experience the patriotism and perseverance of the Chinese nation. The Club will continue to leverage the city’s strengths to serve the country’s needs, and cooperate with the HKSAR Government and all sectors of society to contribute to Hong Kong’s integration into the overall national development.
The Club is committed to promoting cultural and artistic exchange between China and the rest of the world, and to supporting the development of cultural facilities and heritage conservation in Hong Kong. In addition to sponsoring the Cavalry performances, the Club is also offering complimentary tickets to its staff as well as Club mentors and their mentees under the Strive and Rise Programme.
The Club’s Year of the Horse campaign is a year-long celebration of the close bond between horses and humans and the contribution racing makes to Hong Kong. It also promotes tourism as well as equine sports and sports development. Racing is not only the city’s favourite pastime, but also a symbol of its “can-do” spirit and stability under “One Country, Two Systems”. Through the success of Hong Kong horses on the international stage, the sport also brings pride to the community and global recognition to our city. None of this would be possible without the horse. For more information please visit https://hkjc.com/YOTH.
About Cavalry
The dance drama is divided into six acts. The first half depicts the “choices” made by the hero Chuluu, who is determined to join the Inner Mongolian People’s Cavalry. Chuluu and his horse Galaa can be seen charging fearlessly through the battlefield.
The second half showcases the “loyalty” of war horses. Dancers mimic the movement of the animals, such as tumbling and jumping, to showcase the majesty and loyalty of war horses. At the performance’s conclusion, Chuluu loses his left arm and his war horse Galaa dies, signifying the unbreakable bonds of the cavalry in times of war.
The drama has been awarded the 17th Wenhua Grand Award, the 16th “Five One Project” Award and the 12th China Dance Lotus Award.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class sports and entertainment organisation that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the HKSAR Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2024/25, the Club returned a total of HK$39.1 billion to the community. This included HK$30.1 billion to the HKSAR Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$9.0 billion in approved charity donations. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is one of the world’s leading charity donors.
