Cover Avantgardey will be returning to Hong Kong in March 2026 (Photo: Instagram/@avantgardey_, @livenationhk, @livenationsg and @livenationth)
Avantgardey will be returning to Hong Kong in March 2026 (Photo: Instagram/@avantgardey_, @livenationhk, @livenationsg and @livenationth)
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Japan’s viral dance troupe Avantgardey returns to Hong Kong this March with a high-energy 90‑minute show featuring Cantonese hits, razor-sharp choreography and the deadpan charm that has made them an international sensation
Japanese dance collective Avantgardey are set to electrify Hong Kong next month with Let’s Groove!!, the group’s Asia tour performance which promises unrelenting energy, synchronised choreography and a touch of local rhythm. The all-female troupe—recognisable for their sleek black uniforms, sharp movements and signature deadpan expressions—will perform at MacPherson Stadium on March 15 and 16.
Formed in Osaka in 2020 under choreographer Akane, Avantgardey rose to fame through their eerily coordinated street performances and viral videos that mix contemporary dance with pop-culture humour. Their style blends pop choreography with theatrical minimalism, offering a playful yet hyper-disciplined study in motion. Since their breakthrough on America’s Got Talent, they have become one of Japan’s most recognisable performance exports.
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Returning to Hong Kong, the group say, feels like coming back to an old friend. They were in Hong Kong in early February for their latest pop-up store at Mira Mall, which was a collaboration with the Japanese manga series Chibi Maruko-chan.
“Hong Kong holds very special memories for us,” says Sono, a member of Avantgardey. She added that their most vivid recollection was of “the Chinese New Year parade here in 2024, where we met many Hong Kong friends.” The group shared that they have prepared a number of Cantonese songs for their upcoming show, hoping audiences will “feel the atmosphere of local music through dance.”
The upcoming performance marks their first in the city in two years—a period they describe as one of growth and self-discovery. “When we first started, everyone was new and trying to move as one single team,” says Sono. “Now each of us has found our own individuality, but together those personalities form a stronger, more expressive group.” The members see this as a natural evolution—“a harmony of character and unity,” she says, “that makes us even more synchronised than before.”
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Their meticulous training process is key to maintaining that synergy. The team revealed that they rehearse “very slowly—sometimes at half speed—so every movement is perfect before we speed it up.” Practices can stretch up to 10 hours, refining gestures, facial expressions and timing until every move feels instinctive. “We listen to each other’s comments,” says Sono. “Collaboration makes the performance complete.”
Avantgardey’s performances are a dialogue between cultures. The dancers incorporate local music into their shows while retaining Japanese elements such as school-uniform outfits and disciplined choreography. “Our look represents Japanese culture, but the energy comes from everywhere we perform,” their interpreter noted. “We want audiences to enjoy both Japan’s spirit and the feeling of the city we are in.”
Looking ahead, the group expressed a collective ambition: “One day, we would love to perform in Las Vegas,” Sono says, calling it “the ultimate stage for performers”.
For now, Hong Kong audiences can expect a night of hypnotic rhythm, surprising musical twists and effortless synchronicity when Avantgardey returns—a performance that celebrates precision, personality and cross-cultural connection.
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
