XN000022-1978-08-14 — Page 12

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MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 1978

LAST CURTAIN CALLS FOR HONG KONG DANCERS

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FOUR STANDING OVATIONS BROUGHT THE HONG KONG SCHOOLS CHINESE DANCE TEAM BACK TO THE STAGE OF THE ORPHEUM THEATRE, VANCOUVER, FOR REPEATED CURTAIN CALLS AT THE END OF THE FINAL PERFORMANCE OF THEIR CANADIAN TOUR.

AN AUDIENCE OF 2,500, WHICH INCLUDED THE MAYOR OF VANCOUVER MANY OF THE CITY'S LEADING DIGNITARIES AND A LARGE SHARE OF THE RESIDENT CHINESE COMMUNITY, FOLLOWED THE LEAD OF OTHER ASSEMBLIES WHO HAVE WITNESSED THE TEAM IN ACTION SINCE THEIR ARRIVAL IN EDMONTON TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMONWEALTH ARTS FESTIVAL. THEY WERE LOATH TO SEE THE SHOW CLOSE.

AFTER THIS FAREWELL PERFORMANCE, IN AID OF THE CHINESE CULTURAL CENTRE IN VANCOUVER, THE YOUNG HONG KONG DANCERS ADJOURNED TO A RESTAURANT FOR A CELEBRATION.

COMMENTED TEAM OFFICIAL MR. RAY BIRD: +OUR WHOLE TOUR HAS BEEN GREETED WITH DELIGHTED SURPRISE. AUDIENCES HAVE COME, EXPECTING TO SEE TALENTED BUT AMATEUR SCHOOLCHILDREN, AND INSTEAD HAVE FOUND A STANDARD OF PROFESSIONALISM THEY NEVER EXPECTED.+

AS A RESULT, NUMEROUS INVITATIONS HAVE BEEN HEAPED ON THE TEAM TO APPEAR IN OTHER ENGAGEMENTS, OR TO MAKE RETURN VISITS. ONE INVITATION CAME FROM MEMBERS OF THE KENYAN TEAM IN THE COMMONWEALTH ARTS FESTIVAL, WHO ASKED THE IR HONG KONG COUNTERPARTS TO THE INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS SCHEDULED IN NAIROBI IN DECEMBER.

FOR THE MOMENT, THE TEAM MEMBERS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A WELL EARNED BUT BRIEF SPELL OF RELAXATION AND SIGHTSEEING IN VANCOUVER BEFORE RETURNING TO HONG KONG LATER THIS WEEK.

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