Front-row ticket

Lake remains optimistic as well, despite the less-than-ideal conditions of her HKAPA rehearsals: "It's challenging not being able to see the dancers' faces very well through Zoom and also under masks. But it's amazing how much of the dancers' idiosyncrasies and personalities come through their bodies. This entire project is about overcoming adversity, so despite the vast challenges of working remotely, the payoff is immense."

For Ho, the pandemic has been the catalyst for a technology-driven shift: "Reaching out beyond the walls of venues and opening up to audiences in different locations were ideas that were already in play: the metaverse offers a whole new space in which to connect. With COVID-19, there was an urgent need to try out alternative ways of producing work, and connecting with audiences and each other. We've accelerated development, driven by necessity."