Shanghai and Hong Kong dancers come into bloom
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    Dancers from the School of Dance of the Shanghai Theatre Academy China and the Hong Kong Bauhinia Dance Association will next month (January) perform together in "In the Bloom", a production of an array of newly choreographed award-winning dance pieces.

     Promising young dancers of the two companies will showcase the tradition and vision of Chinese classical and folk dances in works that won awards in the "Taoli Cup" dance competition and the Shanghai Spot Show Dance Showcase. These works include "Undaunted", "The Thai Folk Singer", "Ladies with Fans", "Why are Flowers So Red?", "The Shining Armour" and "Dance Like the Dragon and the Phoenix ¡ª Drums".

      Following the amalgamation in 2002 of the School of Performing Art of Shanghai Teachers' University with the Shanghai Theatre Academy China , it was renamed in 2005 as the School of Dance of the Shanghai Theatre Academy China. It became the first higher art institution to nurture dance specialists in China. The school has two departments, for ballet and Chinese dance. Students of the school have won awards in many dance competitions on the Mainland and abroad. They have visited Malaysia, Japan and Thailand on cultural exchange programmes and have been accorded with high acclaim.

     Founded in 1996, the Hong Kong Bauhinia Dance Association aims to promote the art of traditional Chinese dance. It has, since 1997, performed with various Mainland groups such as the Dance Faculty of the Central Institute of Ethnology, the Beijing Dance Academy, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Arts Academy, the Xinyi Dance Troupe of the Xinjiang Arts Colleage, the Dance Department of the Arts College of Guizhou University and the Xiamen Academy for Performing Arts, winning critical acclaim.

     Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "In the Bloom" will be staged at 8pm on Saturday, January 26, 2008, and 3pm on Sunday, January 27 at the Theatre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre.

     Tickets priced at $100 and $150 are now available at URBTIX outlets. Senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients may have 50% off (limited quotas for students and CSSA recipients on a first-come, first-served basis). A 10% discount applies to Friends of LCSD performing venues. There will be a maximum of 20% off for various booking schemes. Please refer to the programme leaflets for details.

     For enquiries about the programmes, call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp. Ticketing enquiries and reservations can be made on 2734 9009 and credit card telephone bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.

Ends/Friday, December 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:01

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