Olympic excitement hits Disney as Mickey joins youth in chasing sports dreams

As the 2024 Paris Olympics commences, the world’s spotlight is shining brightly on the newly introduced competing sport of breaking. Amid this global fervor, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) has embarked on a mission to ignite the youth’s passion for sports by collaborating with the Sports Legacy Scheme (SLS) to host engaging breaking workshops.

Since 2022, HKDL has been working with SLS to host the ‘Disney All-Star Sports Legacy Academy,’ providing professional sports training, including cycling, skateboarding, and table tennis, to nearly 300 underprivileged children and teenagers from the Hong Kong Christian Service and the Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong.

This year, as the Paris Olympics officially commenced, the newly added breaking competition has attracted global attention. In response, the academy has expanded to offer breaking workshops, as an increasing number of young people have taken to learning the dynamic dance form.

In a dazzling display of youthful talent, HKDL invited the students who had just completed the breaking workshop to take the stage and showcase their newly acquired skills on July 27. To the delight of the crowd, the iconic Disney character Mickey Mouse himself made a surprise appearance, joining the troupe of local and ethnic minority students as they seamlessly incorporated his playful movements into their electrifying breaking routines. Around 100 energetic students and their beaming, enthusiastic parents filled the venue, brimming with pride and excitement to witness the fruits of their children’s hard work.

Ivy Cheung, a member of the Hong Kong, China breaking team with nearly seven years of experience under her belt, led the breaking workshop. In addition to competing in various competitions and constantly challenging herself to achieve better results, Cheung harbors another aspiration – to promote the dynamic dance form of breaking to a wider audience.

“Breaking originated as a street performance dance, and I hope that through breaking becoming an Olympic sport this year, as well as this collaboration with Hong Kong Disneyland, more children and young people can be exposed to the techniques and artistry of this dance form and cultivate their interest in it,” she expressed passionately.

With boundless energy and enthusiasm, Cheung took the stage to spearhead the event, dynamically guiding the eager participants through the foundational breaking moves. After a warm-up, she started to impart some more complex techniques to the students.

12-year-old local student Anna Lau, who has prior experience in Chinese and Latin dance, experienced the ‘trendier’ breaking for the first time through the workshop and learned many new moves, such as ‘Top Rock,’ which involves crossing one’s feet while stepping.

“Breaking has more variations in the dance steps, allowing for free creation of different combinations. It really tests one’s physical abilities while also leaving room for creativity,” Anna described. “Being able to perform breaking at Hong Kong Disneyland and even share the stage with Mickey Mouse has become a wonderful summer memory for me!” Anna told the reporters that the workshop has inspired her and she plans to continue learning breaking and explore more of this dance style in the future.

12-year-old Pakistani student Ayan Muhammad was also excited to participate in the performance: “This is my first time visiting Hong Kong Disneyland, and I am so grateful to have this opportunity to dance on stage with Mickey Mouse. When I’m on the stage, surprisingly, I don’t feel nervous at all because I really enjoy performing!”

HKDL Ambassadors Beyan Tse and Gisele Abejero, who served as the dynamic hosts of the event, noted that the electric anticipation surrounding the upcoming Olympic Games presented an exceptional opportunity for the resort to encourage the public to learn about and actively participate in a diverse array of sports.

They hope that this collaboration between HKDL, SLS, and the Hong Kong Christian Service not only evokes young people’s interest in the electrifying dance form of breaking, but also inspires them to explore other sports, ultimately bolstering local sports development and participation across Hong Kong.