RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
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Hong Kong Ballet
In 1997, the Hong Kong Ballet's performances included Snow Queen, a double bill of Artistic Director Stephen Jefferies' Giselle and local choreographer Yuri Ng's The School of the Dolls, and Domy Reiter-Soffer's The Emperor and the Nightingale. It premiered Wayne Eagling's The Last Emperor and Stephen Jefferies' The Nutcracker. The ballet continued to run its Education and Outreach Programmes, which included Dancing Around Ko Shan, Dance Maker's Factory (being part of the Artist- in-Residence Scheme), Journey into Ballet History (which targets primary and secondary students), and various performances at Town Halls in the New Territories.
Exploration Theatre
Exploration Theatre continued to use the strategy of 'work-in-progress' to devise better original plays and continued to provide a platform for local artists to produce original works including Where the shoes are and the musical Tina. The company also staged a successful re-run of Dragon's Legend. The company participated in a variety of primary and secondary educational projects and performed for more than 25 000 students.
The Hong Kong Sinfonietta
In 1997, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta presented 10 concert series and participated in 25 accompaniment projects. Five educational concerts and 10 free performances were also given, reaching a total audience of 150 000. To enhance cultural exchange and promote the achievement of local musicians, it toured Taiwan and Guangdong in April and December respectively.
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Established by ordinance in 1984 with an autonomous governing council, the academy offers professional education and training up to degree level in performing and related arts. Disciplines offered include dance, drama, music, theatre technical arts, and film and television.
The foremost of the year's highlights was the week-long Academy Music Festival in June, providing unprecedented educational opportunities for music students at the academy and throughout the education sector. Internationally renowned conductor Sir Neville Marriner, the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, violinist Nigel Kennedy, cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, percussionist Evelyn Glennie, pianist Peter Donohoe and many distinguished musicians from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan participated in 20 public concerts, 26 master classes and 43 coaching sessions. In August, the academy hosted Dance On '97. It founded this annual festival and conference in 1987 as the International Festival of Dance Academies and it was based in Hong Kong until 1991. Since then, a different country has been host each year.
Other highlights included the popular concerts in Government House, a fund- raising performance by violinist Pinchas Zukerman, Mozart's Magic Flute, and Martin Y Soler Una Cosa Rara. The latter opera was the featured attraction of the Spanish Week at the Academy during November.
Drama students and staff swept many of the sixth annual Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies' Awards, including Best Director, Best Production and Best Music.