Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, a nondescript block on the fringe of a cluster of public housing estates in Choi Hung, may be a little off the local cultural map but that is exactly why choreographer/dancer Jacky Yu Yan-wah thinks the far-flung venue is perfect to promote contemporary dance. 'I want to bring the genre to people living on Kowloon side and in the New Territories,' he says.
But it's not so much his idealistic intention as his artistic vision that is now giving the civic centre the buzz as this city's mecca for modern dance. The two major productions Yu's dance company E-Side presented this year - Wonderful Dance in January and Contemporary Dance Showcase - Asian-Male Episode 2 in July - were lauded not only for their high standards but also for their relevance as they brought together some of the finest and most promising choreographers and dancers in Hong Kong and from around the region.
Converging Beams, to be staged later this month, will feature six up-and-coming homegrown talents while Crazy will round off the year with challenging works from five accomplished dancers, including Wong Tan-ki and Dick Wong Tai-fai.
It has always been clear to Yu, a graduate of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (APA) who founded E-Side Dance Company in 1988, that whatever he stages, it would have to be of range and quality. It's the only way to attract an audience, he says, especially when dance is still a niche art form in this city.
And thanks to the Venue Partnership Scheme, an initiative launched by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) in 2008 to give resident artists and arts companies the priority in booking facilities such as rehearsal rooms and auditoriums, Yu has been able to realise his vision more effectively.
E-Side presents four major productions and hosts a series of educational workshops/classes each year. Through these events, Yu wants to achieve a number of goals: to bring overseas artists to Hong Kong; to provide a platform for both fresh and experienced talent; to present his own work; and to promote dance in the community.
More than 100 children, teenagers and adults signed up for its 'Jump! Shaky-Dance & See' dance course this summer, 'which is really not bad', says Yu, who is in his 40s. But it's the big shows - including This Side. That Side (2009), Beyond Boundaries (2009) and Stillness in Motion (2011) - that have been giving his company, as well as the venue, an edge.