We love bringing dance out of traditional theatres and right into everyday spaces. At the Eaton HK Movement Festival, choreographer Purvi Butola and the team at Raas n Rhythm shared Colors of India directly in the hotel lobby. Blending vibrant Bollywood dance with traditional folk forms from Gujarat and Rajasthan, this close-up, open-air setting allowed us to connect face-to-face with people and simply share the joy of movement together.

This piece holds a special place in our hearts because it represents a journey of small, steady steps over time. Rooted in our 2023 collaboration with Akademi in London during the Three Cities Indian Dance Exchange, our initial dance piece Nila gradually evolved and deepened through our sharing at the Bollywood and Multicultural Dance Festival in Athens, eventually transforming into In Search of Motherland in the 1st HKPAX at West Kowloon Cultural District Arts Pavilion. Through a quiet, cross-cultural dialogue between Bharatanatyam, contemporary, and Chinese dance—gently woven together with live gong meditation—we explored humanity's connection to the land. Huge thanks to our dedicated performers—Kirsten Margaret Iona Newell, Krystal Chow, Li Li, Leung Wing Kiu, and Lo King San Kingsan—and Gong Therapist Una for growing this piece with us.

In September 2024, we shared a series of 12 live Indian dance performances right inside Hong Kong International Airport. Dance is a wonderful language that needs no words, and it was such a joy to share traditional rhythms with travelers from all over the world. Wrapping up with an interactive photo session, we hope it brought a warm, memorable touch to everyone's journey through Hong Kong..

Organized by the Centre for Community Cultural Development (CCCD), and co-hosted by BEYOND Bollywood and Eaton HK, this festival is all about making space for everyone. We firmly believe that dance belongs to every body, regardless of physical or mental differences. Through this platform, we wanted to invite everyone to find their own way of moving and expressing themselves.

Over these months, we took small steps together to build a supportive community through a wide variety of activities:

12 online and in-person workshops
6 local community tours
6 free screenings and sharing seminars
4 inspiring performances featuring local and international dancers
2 themed exhibitions

Seeing people of all abilities connect through movement reminds us of why we do what we do—one step at a time, making art a bit more accessible to everyone.

Held at Central Market and organized by the Consulate General of India in Hong Kong, the Indian Mango Cultural Fest was a joyful community gathering celebrating the cultural traditions of Indian mangoes. It was a particularly heartwarming moment for us to see a group of local secondary students—whom we had the privilege of training through the Arts-in-School Partnership Scheme, supported by the HKADC—take the stage to present an energetic Bollywood dance performance, sharing their hard work, passion, and festive cheer with everyone.

The "Meet the Masters!" series, organized by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office, aimed to deepen the public's understanding of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) through skill demonstrations and interactive discussions.
Beyond Bollywood was honored to be one of the speakers in this series. The program, titled "Indian Dance of Hindu Festivals," took place on June 29 at the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre (located at the Sam Tung Uk Museum). The event included an engaging talk featuring speakers Harry Baath and Sun Chau, along with a demonstration that highlighted the vibrant traditions of Indian dance. The talk included an introduction to Indian festivals such as Diwali and Dussehra, an overview of associated dance forms like Bhangra and Garba, and an interactive experience for participants to join in the dances.

Supported by the HKADC, this marked our third time participating in the Arts-in-School Partnership Scheme. For this year’s finale, we had the wonderful opportunity to collaborate for the first time with AD&FD POHL Leung Sing Tak College to co-organize a special two-day event: Indian Dance Culture Festival (印「蹈」文化祭).

Over these two days, the school transformed into a lively hub of cultural exchange, with activities spreading into every corner and completely open to the public. We celebrated the joy and festive spirit of Indian culture through a rich array of programs, including double bill dance productions—My Life on the Fringe and An Encounter with Ganesha—alongside a dance exhibition, all-ages dance workshops, henna painting, traditional Indian costume try-ons, and English-language dance experience classes. It was a heartwarming weekend of welcoming neighbors, students, and visitors alike to share in the dance.

We were thrilled to join the vibrant energy of the Chinese New Year night parade in Tsim Sha Tsui alongside 29 wonderful performing groups. Under the theme Let Your LIGHT Shine (發光發亮), our team of 32 performers took to the streets to share a diverse tapestry of Indian dance, featuring Bollywood, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Bhangra. Amidst the festive lights and bustling crowds, it was a joyful opportunity to connect with the Hong Kong community and share the warmth and spirit of togetherness.

We were deeply honored to return for our second year with the Wong Bing Lai Music and Performing Arts Department (WBLMP) at Lingnan University. Dedicating three immersive hours to each form—Bhangra and Kuchipudi—we loved gathering with the students once again. It became so much more than a dance class; it was a heartfelt, joyful exchange where our artists and students shared stories, rhythms, and laughter side by side, creating a truly meaningful cultural dialogue, discovering and exploring the profound heritage of diverse cultures together.

Co-organised with Sri Shanti Academy and presented at Hong Kong City Hall in January 2024, we had the privilege of bringing together a multi-layered artistic journey exploring the rich heritage of Indian mythology and movement.

The experience began with The Dance. Trace — Origination exhibition (January 25–26) at the Exhibition Hall, where visitors explored the story of Krishna across five thematic areas, connecting ancient traditions with the origins of Indian dance. This storytelling unfolded even further in our dance drama, Krishnarpanam (January 26–27). Featuring over 20 talented dancers set against a modern art gallery backdrop, our performers acted as living storytellers, weaving ancient myths into dynamic choreography to share the warmth, beauty, and depth of Indian culture with everyone present.