Profile 1 Lion meets hip-hop
29-year-old Hong Kong local Ha King Man is breathing new life into a traditional martial arts performance with his modern styling of the Chinese lion dance. Ha uses new elements such as hip-hop dance music, trendy outfits and even pink lion heads with flashing lights in his act. His dance team , which electrifies audiences everywhere, has appeared at many high-profile events, including the promotional activities of Hong Kong East Asian Games.
What others say: 'A lion dance is not a performance, but a battle between rivals.' said Ha's grandfather, who was a kung fu master. 'The best lion dancer is the one who is most confident on front of a crowd.'
Though it looks effortless, lion dancing is a discipline which requires years of hard work. In Ha's case, he started training when he was just four years old. ' Ha's hip-hop lion dancing requires a great deal of strength and flexibility that stems from years of hard training.' explains a professor at Beijing Sport University.
What Ha says: 'It's been a difficult road. I had been the world champion until I hurt my back in 2005. The injury was a major setback, and I was forced to quit lion dancing for a while.' He recalls. 'However, I didn't want to give up , so I decided to work hard and get healthy again.'
With great determination, Ha went on to reclaim the title several years later. To date, He has won a total of sever world championships.
Latest update: These days, Ha is busy promoting lion dancing in Hong Kong. 'We are hoping to attract more youngsters to join us,' he says. Ha notes that a professional lion dancer can make around HK$20000 a month.
Profile 2 Food blogger - the perfect career recipe
Olivia Kam, or 'ok' , as her fans like to call her, is an online celebrity in Hong Kong. The food science major is known for her witty and knowledgeable food reviews that command a huge following, receiving over 3000 hits a day. Her reviews are so well-respected that they have been known to 'make' or 'break' restaurants!
For Olivia, her stardom came as a surprise. 'Food is my passion, and I never thought that it would turn into a career.' she says. Her online postings, which started out as a hobby when she was 16, were originally a way to express ger great love of food.
What others say: 'Olivia is very down-to-earth, and loves simple food. She is not the kind of person who likes eating at fancy restaurants.'
What Olivia says: 'Never judge a restaurant by the number of tables it has, or the number of items on its menu. Instead, look for places where food is made using the freshest ingredients and served by a well-trained staff.'
Latest Update: Olivia, who will celebrate her 20th birthday in two months, is taking an online course to learn how to design websites. 'I want to improve my website for the readers.' she says. Due to her site's growing popularity, Olivia has received mant free meal offers, which she has all turned down. 'I pay for all my meals when I eat out. I don't want my readers to think I'm being unfairly influenced by anyone.' she explains. Besides, she already makes a good living from the advertisements on her site.
Profile 3 Aiming for the skies!
Kyle Tong loves to travel. His dream job is to be a flight attendant, but only after he finishes university.' Even though I'm turning 18 next month, which is the job's minimum age requirement, I'll wait.' he says.
What others say: 'Working as a flight attendant is all about customer service. You have to be cheerful and patient since you are meeting customers face to face.' says Kyle's careers adviser. 'Strong communication skills are also essential. Kyle, whose Cantonese, Putonghua, English, and Japanese are very fluent, has an edge over other applicants. He's also good with people and is a fast learner.'
What Kyle says: 'I'm quite fit, so I should be able to pass the physical fitness test. However, I believe in the value of education, so I want to go to university first before I apply for the post. Also, competition is very fierce, with many applicants being university graduates. I need to learn how to present myself in the best light, so that I can make a good impression at the interview.'
Latest update: Kyle is looking forward to his 18th birthday! He plans to attend university, but he is already aiming for the skies!