7
TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1982
SCHOLARSHIP FOR LOCAL BALLET TALENT
***
THERE ARE A LOT OF TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY AS BUDDING MUSICIANS AND DANCERS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BALLET SCHOLARSHIP, HE SAID THERE WAS AN ABUNDANCE OF TALENT IN HONG KONG, BUT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS HAD BEEN THE LACK OF OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER ING THAT TALENT.
ONLY THE OUTSTANDING STOOD A CHANCE OF COMPETING FOR A PLACE IN A WORLD-FAMOUS TRAINING ESTABLISHMENT OVERSEAS, HE SAID.
+WITH THE OPENING OF OUR OWN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC AND ACADEMY OF BALLET IN HONG KONG, THIS HAS CHANGED AND THERE ARE INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG TO FOLLOW A PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COURSE AT HOME, MR WIGGHAM SAID.
ALSO AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WERE THE PRESIDENT OF ZONTA CLUB OF HONG KONG EAST, MRS EMILY SHUM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG ACADEMY OF BALLET, MRS KAY JONES THE PRINCIPAL OF THE ACADEMY, MISS PAULA LAU- AND THE WINNER OF THE THREE-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP, MISS LEE KAM LAN.
THE SCHOLARSHIP, ESTABLISHED BY THE ZONTA CLUB, IS WORTH $8 000 A YEAR.
MR WIGGHAM, WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY'S BOARD OF GOVERNORS, SAID HE WAS VERY HAPPY ABOUT ZONTA'S OFFER AS IT WAS THE RESULT OF A SUGGESTION MADE BY THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT.
THE BALLET ACADEMY IS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTIONS BEING GIVEN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY THE GOVERNMENT.
MR WIGGHAM SAID THAT MANY PARENTS IN HONG KONG REGARD MUSIC, AND MORE ESPECIALLY DANCE, AS A PASTIME AND NOT AS IMPORTANT AS +REAL+ ACADEMIC SUBJECTS.
THIS RESULTED IN YOUNGSTERS ABANDONING THEIR TALENTS TO CONCENTRATE ON WHAT WAS SEEN AS A MORE PRODUCTIVE CAREER, HE SAID.
+ I SHOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THIS ATTITUDE IS CHANGING, AND THAT, GIVEN THE INCREASE IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH TRAINING" AND FOR PRACTISING THEIR ART AFTER TRAINING, IT IS NOW BECOMING GENERALLY RECOGNISED THAT THE PERFORMING ARTS -- DANCE OF COURSE
INCLUDED - CAN PROVIDE A WORTHWHILE CAREER FOR OUR YOUNGSTERS IN HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
+CERTAINLY IT IS BASED ON THIS VIEW THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS SO FIRM IN ITS SUPPORT FOR THE BALLET ACADEMY. +
HE SAID IT IS FOR THIS REASON ALSO THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS CO-OPERATING WITH THE JOCKEY CLUB ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FUTURE ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CATER FOR AS MANY AS 600 FILL-TIME STUDENTS.
/MR. VILY