ENG-2011 — Page 459

Recreation, Sport and the Arts | 395

and performances, providing artists with an opportunity to showcase and sell their arts and handicraft products.

Major Performing Arts Groups

Chung Ying Theatre Company

Established in 1979, the Chung Ying Theatre Company is a non-profit-making professional theatre company dedicated to creating high quality theatrical productions and to promoting the theatrical arts, exploring cultural exchanges and enriching cultural life.

In 2011, it invited a number of award-winning directors to direct local and foreign plays, including Gabriel Lee's The Underpants, Chung King Fai's Amadeus, Peter Jordan's Dracula, Lo King Man's Echoes of the Tieshizi Hutong. The company's Artistic Director, Ko Ting Lung directed the re-run of Tuesdays with Morrie in Los Angeles and Hong Kong, while resident director, Edmond Lo, directed the original musical Christmas Messages.

City Contemporary Dance Company

The City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC), established in 1979, is a professional modern dance company that nurtures creative dance talent in the context of modern China. In 2011, it produced four originals, namely Off Screen, Plaza X, Talk to Him and The Legend and The Hero, and hosted a video show, called 'Jumping Frames International Dance Video Showcase'. It jointly presented 'China Dance Forward', a showcase of works by talented young Chinese dancers from Hong Kong, the Mainland and Taiwan, with the LCSD. The company also performed in Guangzhou, Xinjiang, Berlin and London.

Hong Kong Ballet

The Hong Kong Ballet is one of Asia's premier classical ballet companies, which is gaining recognition as a world-class institution. In 2011, the company performed 42 performances of ballets which included the Firecracker; Jazz Rituals & War: Stravinsky's Revolution; Choreographic Showcase 2011: Inspired by the Five Elements; Galaxy: International Ballet Gala; Swan Lake, Coppélia, Moments in Time, and The Nutcracker. The company also participated in the 5th International Ballet Festival in Cali, Colombia.

Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

Founded in 1977, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra is the city's sole professional symphonic Chinese orchestra. Its 85 members have been promoting the development of Chinese music under the theme 'Radiating from Hong Kong- Empowering Chinese Music in the World'. It organises over 140 concerts and activities each season.

In 2011, the orchestra organised for the first time the International Conducting Competition for Chinese Music with a series of outreach and educational activities, which were well received. The orchestra continued to serve as a cultural ambassador of Hong Kong, and was invited to participate in the world-famous Northern Lights.