RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
340
Hong Kong Dance Company
The Hong Kong Dance Company is the only professional Chinese dance company in the territory to present Chinese traditional and folk dances and full-length dance dramas. The company presented six productions in 1995 two new dance dramas, one revival, a showcase of young local choreographers and two dance medleys. In all, 11 319 people were attracted to the 19 performances. The company also gave 90 free performances and lecture-demonstrations in schools and community arts centres to 50 929 people.
Chung Ying Theatre Company
In 1995, Chung Ying Theatre Company continued to focus on the development of local original works. Forever Yours, a 'made in Hong Kong' musical, started the year's programme as part of the annual Hong Kong Arts Festival. The play re-ran in Regional Council venues in response to keen audience demand. In Studio Shorts '95, three short plays were staged to provide opportunities for new playwrights within and outside the company. Other new plays include A Journey to the Next Millennium and McMug - Looking for Invisible Man,
A highlight of the year was an overseas tour of Old Master Q, a popular success of past years, to join Singapore's Festival of Asian Performing Arts. Chung Ying also organised many Theatre-in-Education activities, which have always been an important part of the company's programme, and co-organised Young Playwrights' Lab with The Chinese University of Hong Kong to encourage play-writing among _talented youth.
City Contemporary Dance Company
In 1995, in keeping with the company's commitment to Hong Kong's home-grown dance talent, 20 innovative local choreographers from different backgrounds were involved in CCDC's company productions throughout the year.
The highlight of this year was the company's major full-length dance production San Mao, jointly choreographed by Madam Shu Qiao and Willy Tsao. It engaged the full artistic forces of 40 dynamic dancers from CCDC (Hong Kong) and the specially invited Shanghai Youth Dance Company in the Urban Council's 1995 Chinese Dance Festival. In July, CCDC was also invited to the International Dance Event '95 of Korea at which the Artistic Director presented his China Wind China Fire.
•
Dance in education and school touring programmes continued to be important company activities including the highly successful 3rd Dancing in the Sun project staged at the Tuen Mun Town Hall in July with more than 200 students from 17 secondary schools. CCDC2, the company's second unit, organised a series of outdoor Podium Dance Projects with students from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Ballet
As a repertory company, Hong Kong Ballet continued to bring enjoyment to classical ballet lovers through the successful performances of full-length works including the newly commissioned Anna Karenina and Snow Queen, choreographed by Andre
Page 405Page 406