Spotlight on YAFies: Alicia Tang

Alicia Tang
Assistant Director of Miller Performing Arts: #BetheChange: Tipping the Scales

How many HKYAF projects have you been involved in?
Over the years, I was lucky enough to be a part of many of the opportunities HKYAF has to offer. I participated in Melodia (my first project!) as an ensemble member and #Hashtag last year. I also worked on the spoken word portions of a few #BetheChange campaigns and was the assistant director for Tipping the Scales alongside Lindsey McAlister, the founder of HKYAF. This summer I joined the Social Media Think Tank programme to generate youth-targeted campaign content and learn about branding. Most excitingly, I’ll be performing in the latest HKYAF flagship show Only A Girl as a main cast member this November!


Alicia and the cast of Only a Girl.

What did your work as assistant director entail in #BetheChange: Tipping the Scales?
As assistant director for #BetheChange I worked alongside director Lindsey to keep rehearsals running smoothly and make sure the piece conveyed a strong artistic vision. I also met with Lindsey before and after rehearsals to share notes. During rehearsals, I led the warmups and encouraged the young choreographers by giving them constructive comments and feedback.

What did you enjoy most about #BetheChange: Tipping the Scales?
My absolute favourite part of the project would be two things – I couldn’t settle on one! First, the opportunity to be heard and seen in a professional setting. Taking a proactive role in projects is extremely important to me – it’s great to be able to contribute my ideas. As a youth artist, with an interest in film, it’s rare to be able to take a prominent role in a professional project. So this was invaluable to me. The second thing I enjoyed was being able to work closely with the youth choreographers – the youngest was only seven years old! For many of them it was their first official HKYAF project, and you could see them observe and absorb the level of professionalism Lindsey expects. Ultimately, they did a great job. It was really satisfying to see their growth!

What are your expectations for the #BetheChange: Tipping the Scales project?
All HKYAF projects are punctuated with a high level of professionalism, so it was clear this project would be no different in that respect. My greatest expectation is for the call to action it communicates – I hope it stays true and consistent. Because I know we can make an impact through the arts, and I wanted to show that.

What was the strongest influence you had when you were growing up?
I’d say my sister was the strongest influence on me growing up – we always sang together and performed in shows together. She got me into musicals and we’d often spend days obsessing over the soundtracks. Having her company meant I was never alone when exploring the arts and that’s most likely one of the reasons why I stuck with it.

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Alicia and her family.

Describe a real-life situation that inspired you.
​I remember the first HKYAF production I saw was Blood Brothers. Lindsey was standing at the theatre entrance greeting the audience (as she does for every show, I now know). As soon as I walked in I was caught up in the atmosphere, the stage design and the props really drew me in. During the show, I really believed that all the actors existed within this world. It’s a show I’ll remember forever, and it led me to audition and be a part of Melodia as an ensemble member!

If you were a new addition to the crayon box, what colour would you be?
If I was a new addition to a crayon box, I’d be a shade of pink – an amalgamation of red and white. To me, red represents boldness: to not be afraid to put yourself out there and express your passions and desire to pursue them. This is something I’ve learned from previous HKYAF projects. White, on the other hand, represents being able to easily match and blend in with other colours. It’s important to me to be able to work well with others and be flexible when working with different demographics. That’s why I’d be a mix of both – pink!

Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?
In ten years’ time, I hope to have graduated from university. I’m still exploring what I want to pursue in the future but I know that I always want to be a part of the HKYAF community.

Who is your favourite artist?
Currently, my favourite artist is the musician Tenille Arts. Her music can transform and brighten my mood instantly!