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The Tsuen Wan New Town 50th Anniversary Celebration Organising Committee (the Committee) and the Tsuen Wan District Office staged two sessions of the dance drama "Tsuen Wan Legend" at the Tsuen Wan Town Hall Auditorium today (March 3) in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the new town.
With the backdrop of a traditional "fire dragon", the Deputy Director of Home Affairs, Ms Mimi Lee; Chairman of the Committee, Mr Chau How-chen; Tsuen Wan District Officer, Mr Cheung Doi-ching; and participating students started the performance by leading a 1000-strong audience in singing "Home at Tsuen Wan".
At the ceremony, Ms Lee said that the Home Affairs Department is committed to enhancing cohesion and fostering creative arts and culture in the community. This year's "Vibrant People, Harmonious Community Activities" commanded keen support from the public and enhanced their sense of belonging in the community. She expressed gratitude to the Tsuen Wan District Council (TWDC) for organising a wide variety of creative activities for local residents.
Born and raised in Tsuen Wan, Mr Chau thanked the Hong Kong Dance Company for the splendid dance drama which allowed him and the audience to witness - in the space of an hour - the evolution of Tsuen Wan from a small village to a modern community of more than 300,000 people.
Artistic Director of the Hong Kong Dance Company, Mr Leung Kwok-shing, said that he was grateful to TWDC for subsidising the production of the 100-minute long dance drama, which focuses on life in a Hakka walled village. The performance started off with various dance episodes featuring farming, praying for rain and blessing, revealing the livelihood of folk villages in Tsuen Wan. The finale, in the form of Broadway-style musical, showcased the vibrant city life in modern Tsuen Wan and extolled the robust development of the community.
The Committee extended invitations to kindergarten, primary and secondary students, their parents and teachers, the elderly, new arrivals and persons with disabilities in Tsuen Wan to view the drama. The event succeeded in bringing together various sectors of the community as well as promoting arts, culture and historical education.
One of the student performers, surnamed Chan, said, "I was so glad to be selected to take part in such a large-scale dance drama, as it gave me the valuable experience to interact with professional dancers from the Hong Kong Dance Company. I enjoyed it very much, especially seeing the transformation of Tsuen Wan."
A Hakka granny residing in Tsuen Wan for more than forty years said, "Although I don't know much about dancing, the plots of the drama reminded me of the past and I was deeply impressed by the outstanding dance performance and unique costumes."
A boy surnamed Chu, who has lived in Hong Kong for two years, said, "It is a lively drama and it allowed me to have a better understanding of modern Tsuen Wan and its old days."
Ends/Thursday, March 3, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:30
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