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The following is issued on behalf of the Provisional Urban Council:

Six pairs of prize-winning dancing stars from USA, Germany, Italy, Denmark and China will join local champions at the Provisional Urban Council's World Ballroom & Latin American Dance 1999 to light up the dancing floor at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium (QES) this weekend (October 30 and 31) by their superb performance.

The star-studded show to begin at 7:30pm will present an array of romantic and elegant dances ranging from waltz, tango to cha cha, rumba, samba, and rock-and-roll, bringing two nights of passion and romance for dancing fans.

Dance-lovers will be much excited to meet the three-time World Exhibition Dance champions - David and Sharon Savoy from the United States. This pair of renowned dancers has been invited as the guest performers at thef Sydney Olympics 2000. They also won a series of titles including the 1998 North American Dance Champions; the 1995 US Entertainers of the Year; the 1991, 1993 and 1994 Dance Award winners; as well as the five-time Star Search winners.

From Germany are Peter Muller and Elke Maibauer who are the Champions of the 1999 Italian Open Seque Championship. Being the 1995 European Ten Dance Champions, they were also awarded runners-up of the 1998 German Open Seque Championship as well as the fourth place in the World Professional Ten Dance Championship for three consecutive years since 1994.

Another European well-known pair, William Pino and Alessandra Bucciarelli from Italy were the 1998 IDSF World Standard Champions. They were also the two-time European Standard Amateur Champions; the three-time Italian Standard Amateur Champions; and the two-time United Kingdom Standard Amateur Champions.

The showcase will also feature Klaus Kongsdal and Viktoria Franova from Denmark who were winners of both the IDSF Scandinavian Latin Championship and the IDSF Danish Latin Championship.

To dance-lovers' delight, two remarkable pairs of dancers from China have been invited to give their performance this year. Jeffrey Qi and Olivia Cheong who had won the Gold Award of China's "Lotus Award" Modern Championship and the 1998 Australia Victoria Cup Open Professional Standard Championship will be invited to give their performance. They were also the 1995, 1997 and 1998 China Professional Modern and Ten Dance Champions.

Their counterparts, Yin Wei Dong and Long Wei Min who were the 1997 International Chinese Professional Latin Champions had clinched top prizes for five times both in the China Ten Dance Championship and China Professional Latin Championship. They were also the Silver Award winners of China's first "Lotus Award" Latin Championship and the Champions of the South East Asia Professional Latin Championship.

Last but not the least, are our local favourite - Nick Fok and Helena Ho from Hong Kong. Being the four-time undefeated Southeast Asia Professional Latin Champions, dance-lovers should find them no strangers. The pair was also the Professional Latin Champions in Asian Championships and the Professional Latin finalists in Asian Pacific Championships.

The World Professional Ballroom and Latin American Dance '99, coordinated by Pearl Chan will be compered by Patrick Dunn and Maria Luisa Leitao.

Due to the overwhelming response, only limited tickets at $70, $130, $200 and $350 are available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concession tickets for senior citizens, the disabled and full-time students are also available. 10% discount for each purchase of 10 or more tickets and "Friends of Hong Kong Cultural Centre". Reservations can be made on 2734 9009.

Members of the audience are welcome to show their talents by joining in the participatory social dance sessions to sashay around the floor and make it a romantic night to remember!

For programme enquiries, please call 2591 1340.

End/Monday, October 25, 1999

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