Dancing towards an inclusive world of boundless opportunities at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

In celebration of the 29th anniversary of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort joined hands with key community partners for its first-ever inclusive processional and dance performance to promote inclusion, diversity and equal opportunity for all.

As a landmark entertainment, hospitality and tourism destination in the region, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has always been committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment where magic and joy are delivered to all guests. Throughout the years, the resort has stood side by side with community partners and has received much recognition for its ongoing efforts in promoting social change.

This December, to mark the International Day of Persons of Disabilities, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort organized a first-of-its-kind inclusive processional for people of all abilities. The processional, aptly named ‘Wondrous Dance for ALL’, saw Disney VoluntEARS dancing along Main Street, U.S.A together with key community partners. Through bringing world-class performing arts opportunities to everyone, the event provided a remarkable example of how inclusion can lead to boundless opportunities.

Building a wonderland of inclusion and diversity

Diversity and inclusion have always been an integral part of the world of Disney. As Tim Sypko, Senior Vice President of Operations at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, notes in the opening ceremony, “Disneyland is renowned for its all-embracing entertainment and boundless offerings. Our very own Castle of Magical Dreams is an amazing example of that, representing the diversity and inclusion that we are continuously striving to harness and grow.” In particular, he emphasizes the importance of nurturing a culture that embraces people of all abilities and making accessibility features even more visible.

“With that in mind, we are continuing to join hands with our valued community partners on this journey of inclusion awareness,” Sypko affirms. “As the world evolves for the better, we want to evolve alongside it. We want to ensure that all people feel welcome and appreciated, no matter their background, life experiences and perspectives.”

Benny Cheung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Joint Council for People with Disabilities, acknowledges the monumental significance of this occasion. “This is a day to signify all our ongoing efforts in making sure everyone’s rights and needs are respected and met, irrespective of their ability or background. Hence, we are thankful to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort for arranging a moment for us to celebrate this day and for their continued efforts in the inclusion space, together with all of today’s participants.”

A fearless and joyful experience

At the helm of the resort’s first-ever inclusive processional was Angela Lam, Associate Show Director of Entertainment & Costuming at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, and Ronaldo Labian, Choreographer of Entertainment & Costuming. United in their mission to provide a dream place for people of all abilities to perform, Lam and Labian curated the processional to demonstrate the possibility of inclusion for people with disabilities.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in such a meaningful event,” says Lam. “It’s very rewarding to see dancers of all abilities come together and enjoy the experience of performing at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.”

In particular, Lam notes that she has been greatly inspired by the fearlessness of the wheelchair dancers. “Initially, I was worried that our dance moves might be too difficult for our partners in wheelchairs, but they have proven me wrong with their exceptional talent, remarkable determination and boldness in facing challenges. Their fearless, can-do attitude is definitely something that I need to learn,” Lam admits.

As a choreographer, Labian stresses the importance of designing movements that showcase the best in every dancer and bring fun to everyone. “After all, the processional is a valuable opportunity to demonstrate to the public that people of all abilities can put on a good show.”

Hence, for Labian, one of the most rewarding aspects of choreographing this performance is witnessing the delight of everyone involved. “I will never forget the sight of performers having the time of their life performing the show, nor the radiant smiles of parents and the crowd as we paraded through the street,” he continues. “I would like to thank our community partners for bringing life to my choreography, as well as embodying the values of inclusion and diversity.”

Joining hands with community partners

One of the performers of this inclusive processional is Evina Wong, Vice-Chairperson of the Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth and Chairperson of Hong Kong Wheelchair Dance Sport Association. Wong contracted polio when she was a year old and has been unable to walk with her left leg since then. Her disability, however, did not hinder her from pursuing her passion for dancing and she has achieved exceptional results in international wheelchair dance competitions.

As a long time aficionado of Disney and Disneyland parades, Wong is elated to be a part of this performance to promote disability inclusion. She notes that the event was challenging in some respects since it differed from her usual ballroom dancing experience. “We normally dance around a single spot in an indoor setting, but on this occasion, we have to dance on the streets while simultaneously moving forward with the processional. Nevertheless, with the passion and dedication of our dancers, we were able to deliver a phenomenal performance today.”

To further advance the spirit of inclusion and diversity, Wong invited a number of standing partners to dance alongside her group. She hopes that the sight of non-disabled people performing side by side with wheelchair dancers serves as a vivid reflection of the possibility of social integration.

Another performer is Christine Lau, a dancer with Down’s syndrome from the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong. She finds fulfilment in music and dance and has been exploring various dance genres, including ballet, jazz, modern dance and Chinese dance.

“I am happy and excited to partner with Disney cast members, volunteers and performers from other organizations for this event,” Lau says. “I feel energized and full of life dancing in this magical wonderland.”

Lau believes that the performing arts should be a space where people of all abilities are welcomed and celebrated. Through this processional, Lau hopes to demonstrate that everyone can immerse in the joy of dancing as long as an inclusive platform exists.

Spreading the spirit of inclusivity

As a reflection of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort’s long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion, the resort has recently added ‘inclusion’ to its core values. Many year-round initiatives to spread inclusivity have also been implemented.

Over the past year, the resort hosted a series of workshops for cast members and appointed barrier-free ambassadors to better cater to the needs of people with physical and mental disabilities. This Christmas, Disney VoluntEARS will be performing with some of the NGOs in the ‘Community’s Got Talent’ program for the very first time to spread festive joy around the resort. The resort’s Community Involvement Program will also be returning to bring joy and magical experiences to those in need across Hong Kong through park ticket donations. Over 10,000 park tickets will be offered to NGOs supporting people with disabilities.

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