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Lisa Cam

Silver jewellery, the flick of an eye, and intricate hand gestures that flow to the melody – Chau Hoi-shan, known by her stage name Shanti, skilfully weaves sounds and movements into her Bollywood dance routine.
Chau, who was born in China and moved to Hong Kong when she was 15, was always a dancer – but her interest was in a genre that you might not expect.
“When I was a child, I was exposed to Chinese dance,” she recalls. “However, I watched Indian movies as a child, and the dance scenes in them were very captivating and brought me joy.”
As an adult, Chau began immersing herself in Indian culture, initially through learning yoga.

“Through learning Sahaja Yoga, I began to explore Indian culture, art and dance,” she says.
Chau started studying dance at Hong Kong’s Sri Shakti Academy under the tutelage of Neesha Jhaveri. In 2019, she went to India to study with renowned Kathak dance teachers Marami Medhi and Meghranjani for three years.
According to Chau, Indian dance can generally be divided into classical dance, folk dance, and the choreographed dances from films known as Bollywood dance. Each style has its own charm and cultural significance.
Classical dance is rooted in ancient traditions and spiritual storytelling. One of the eight primary classical styles, Kathak is known for intricate footwork and graceful spins, often accompanied by rhythmic tabla beats.
Kuchipudi, originating from Andhra Pradesh, blends rhythmic hand movements with dramatic expressions, often incorporating theatrical elements.

Bharatanatyam, from India’s southeastern state Tamil Nadu, is characterised by its dancers having a fixed upper torso, bent legs, and flexed knees combined with footwork, and a catalogue of sign language based on hand gestures, eye and facial movements.
Odissi, one of India’s oldest styles of dance, originated from Odisha in eastern India. It is a dance-drama genre of performance art, where the artist and musicians play out a story, a spiritual message or devotional poem from Hindu texts using symbolic costumes and bodily and facial gestures set out in ancient Sanskrit literature.
Sattriya, from Assam, is a devotional dance traditionally performed by monks, marked by its simplicity and spiritual fervour.
Mohiniyattam, from Kerala, South India is a solo female dance with gentle, swaying movements and emotive storytelling.
Kathakali, also from Kerala, is a highly stylised dance-drama known for its elaborate make-up, vibrant costumes, and dramatic facial expressions.

Manipuri, from Manipur in northeast India, is a graceful dance often performed in groups, with flowing movements and themes centred on Radha-Krishna’s divine love.
Folk dance is a celebration of regional diversity and communal joy, often performed during festivals and social gatherings. Styles like Bhangra from Punjab, Garba from Gujarat, and Lavani from Maharashtra showcase the lively spirit and cultural heritage of their respective regions.
Bollywood dance is a modern fusion of classical, folk and Western styles, designed for mass entertainment. It is characterised by high energy, colourful costumes, and catchy music.
“Classical dance is considered an elite art form in contemporary times, while folk dance and Bollywood dance are more oriented toward popular entertainment. I mainly perform classical dance Kathak and Bollywood dance,” Chau explains.
However, while she is immersed in learning Kathak and the more popular film dance, Chau finds the expansive nature of the discipline vast and inspiring.

“Indian classical dance is an ancient and profound traditional art form. It is not just about dance but also incorporates yoga meditation, philosophy, and many mythological stories. Many renowned Indian dancers start learning at a very young age and dedicate their entire lives to it.”
Since the craft is so steeped in history and meaning, the challenge of Indian classical dancing is its complexity and symbolism.
“The biggest challenge is that you are not just learning dance movements but also hand gestures, eye expressions, and the stories behind them … I have been studying Indian classical dance for about 10 years and am still learning, with plenty of room for improvement” she says.
Despite her humble proclamation, Chau has been travelling the world to countries such as India, China, Australia and parts of Europe to perform.
Chau was recently part of a dance performance at the press conference for the inaugural Incredible India Festival hosted by the Consulate General of India in Hong Kong, and will also be performing at a large-scale dance event for the festival in Lan Kwai Fong on March 15 and 16.


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Performing arts in Hong Kong

China-born Hong Kong dancer Chau Hoi-shan, whose stage name is Shanti, performs an Indian dance at the Consulate General of India, Hong Kong. Photo: Consulate General of India, Hong Kong

Chau with her Kathak dance teacher Neesha Jhaveri. Photo: Consulate General of India, Hong Kong

Chau performs traditional Indian dance under the stage name Shanti. Photo: Chau Hoi-shan

Chau’s love of Indian dance started at a young age. Photo: Chau Hoi-shan

Indian dance comes in many forms and there is so much to study, says Chau. Photo: Chau Hoi-shan

A scene from Czech National Ballet’s La Sylphide. Photo: Aya Erivan

A scene from Czech National Ballet’s La Sylphide, performed at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre as part of the 53rd Hong Kong Arts Festival on March 6, 2025. Photo: Aya Erivan

The ballet company in kilts in a scene from Czech National Ballet’s La Sylphide. Photo: Aya Erivan

A scene from Czech National Ballet’s La Sylphide at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Photo: Aya Erivan

A scene from La Sylphide. Photo: Aya Erivan

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To some, Rika Woo is a J-pop singer. To others, she is a Cantonese opera performer. The Hong Kong artiste explains why she does both. Photo: Reuters

Rika Woo interacts with a fan after an Otome Syndream performance in Hong Kong. Photo: Reuters

Woo in traditional Cantonese opera attire. She wants to “be the bridge” between Cantonese opera and J-pop. Photo: Reuters

Woo performs on stage with her J-pop group Otome Syndream. Photo: Instagram/rikakababy

Contemporary Chinese ink artist tips hat to Anita Mui, Cantopop diva, in Hong Kong show

Artist Hong Wai at her show “No Way To Be Good”. Photo: Elson Li

Artist Hong Wai poses with paintings inspired by late Hong Kong singer Anita Mui’s heavily made up eyes, part of her exhibition at Soho House in the city’s Sheung Wan neighbourhood. Photo: Elson Li

A work titled Alternative Landscape Fragrant mountain II by Artist Hong Wai in her exhibition “No Way To Be Good”. Photo: Elson Li

Sunset by Artist Hong Wai in her exhibition “No Way To Be Good”. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Wai at the Soho House exhibition, which runs until March 21, 2025. Photo: Elson Li

Lifestyle

Arts

Chau Hoi-shan, who was born in China and has the stage name Shanti, shares her passion for Indian culture, yoga and dance


Chau Hoi-shan, who was born in China and has the stage name Shanti, shares her passion for Indian culture, yoga and dance.
