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Summer is the time for the International Arts Carnival, and the International Arts Carnival is for summer.
Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the annual summer arts festival will run from July 3 to August 9 and will feature over 390 events for family enjoyment.
In this year's carnival, 11 performing groups from the Mainland, France, Spain, Canada, Denmark and South Korea, along with 29 local groups, will take part in acrobatics, dance theatre, mask theatre, multi-media theatre, musicals, puppetry, Chinese and Western music, comedy, juggling and film.
Kicking off the festival will be "Genghis Khan" by the Inner Mongolia Acrobatic Troupe of China featuring traditional Mongolian feats of archery, wrestling and horse racing while seamlessly combining such award-winning acrobatic stunts as lamp-rolling and bowl-kicking, along with ethnic feats of dancing with long spear, and exotic Mongolian music.
The Inner Mongolia Acrobatic Troupe of China has won the Gold Lion prize at the All China Acrobatics Competition, the gold medal at the Rome Golden Circus Festival, and the gold medal at the Worldwide Festival of the Circus of Tomorrow in France.
In addition to the opening programme, the other four main series of the carnival are: "Fantasy Realm", "ABC, Come and See", "HeARTS Linked to Communities" and "New Generation Series".
The new Fantasy Realm Series will feature colourful programmes taking the audience on dreamlike, adventurous journeys. Programmes in this series are: mask theatre "The Hands of Time" by All Theatre Art Association; multi-media theatre "Clar de llunes (Moonlight)" by Pep Bou from Spain; puppetry "Boxy George" by Teater Refleksion from Denmark; and the musical "The Alchemist" by WOW! Work of Wonders.
Especially curated for children as young as three years old, the ABC Come and See Series will showcase a number of joyful performances. They are: music programme "Trio pour un p'tit pois (Trio for a Green Pea)" by Pascal Ayerbe, Arnaud Sacase & Jean-Baptiste Tandˆm from France; "The Carnival of Chinese Puppets" by Hunan Puppet and Shadow Art Troupe of China, Zhangzhou Puppet Troupe of China and Sichuan Huge Puppet Troupe of China; and a concert for children "Sing the Sounds of English" by City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong.
To bring the fun of arts to various districts, the carnival's HeARTS Linked to Communities Series will host a series of performances, such as musical theatre "Laughing Mama" by Actors' Family; Chinese music "The Legend of Nu Wa" by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and Chung Ying Company Theatre; magic theatre "The Trick Brain by Harry Wong"; educational concert "HKS McDull Music Project 4" by Hong Kong Sinfonietta; musical comedy "PaGAGnini" by Yllana from Spain; juggling "Circus INcognitus" by Jamie Adkins from Canada; "International Children's Film Carnival 2009"; and "Hong Kong Youth Music Camp Concerts 2009".
Exciting programmes for youth under the New Generation Series are: the energetic street dance theatre "B-Boyz & Ballerina" performed by South Korea's top hip hop troupe Gorilla Crew; drama "All-time Classic: Aroma in the Dust" by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; the finale performance of "Teen Wave" youth theatre workshop by Class 7A Drama Group; and a youth installation cum theatre workshop series "City Snapshots" by Trinity Theatre.
Apart from performances, there will be extension activities, such as an outdoor carnival "Journey of Fantasy", workshops, foyer demonstrations, exhibitions and cultural tours throughout the carnival period.
Tickets priced from $40 to $300 are available at URBTIX outlets from tomorrow (May 15). Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 and above, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Package discounts of up to 20% are available for full-price performing arts/film programmes.
Programme guides are available at URBTIX outlets or at the website, (www.hkiac.gov.hk).
For programme enquiries, call 2370 1044. Internet bookings can be made at www.urbtix.hk. Credit card telephone bookings can be made on 2111 5999 and telephone reservations (from May 16) on 2734 9009.
Ends/Thursday, May 14, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:15
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