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Over 40 dancers and teachers from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) School of Dance and the Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA) College of Dance combined for the first time this evening (June 10) to transcend the borders of Chinese dance, ballet and contemporary dance at Expo 2010 Shanghai China (Shanghai Expo).
Comprising five dance works, "Crossing Borders" was presented to a packed house with an attendance rate of 98% at the Academy Theatre, Shanghai Theatre Academy.
The programme opened with the luminous "Ambuscade", a work created by the HKAPA's Head of Chinese Dance, Sheng Peiqi, in collaboration with well-known Hong Kong choreographer Mui Cheuk-yin.
It was followed by "the secret bob" by Spanish choreographer and former Frankfurt Ballet dancer Ana Catalina Romˆhn, and the finale "Free Radicals" by Australia's leading choreographer Graeme Murphy.
Epitomising the programme's title, "Once in a Secret Night" was created by HKAPA teacher and choreographer Yu Pik-yim and performed by 11 dancers from the STA's Chinese Classical Dance Department.
The evening was rounded off by "Place", a dynamic new work by leading Mainland choreographer and graduate of the HKAPA, Zhao Ming. It showcased the integration of the HKAPA's three dance streams - ballet, Chinese dance and contemporary dance.
Dr Anita Donaldson, Dean of Dance at the HKAPA, said, "The evening is a celebration of many things: the fabulous Expo and its host city Shanghai; the 25th anniversary of the HKAPA; the collaboration between the HKAPA and the College of Dance of STA, and among the young dance artists wherever they come from."
On Saturday (June 12), the HKAPA will stage another free performance in a very different setting and format. Devised by HKAPA staff members John Utans and Yu Pik-yim, "Arts. Travel. Two Cities" will take place in Shanghai's Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA). The dance not only showcases the dancers, but also some of the venue's key architectural features.
Other upcoming dance performances co-ordinated by Hong Kong for the Shanghai Expo in June include the City Contemporary Dance Company's site-specific dance gala, "DELT", and "Tales of Two Cities - Hong Kong. Shanghai. Eileen Chang", while the Hong Kong Dance Company's "Qingming Riverside" will be performed in July.
For programme details and ticketing information, please visit the Event Calendar section on Hong Kong's Expo website, www.hkexpo2010.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, June 10, 2010
Issued at HKT 21:22
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