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HK and Mainland artists collaborate for original dance poem "The Great River"
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     Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and produced by the Association of Hong Kong Dance Organizations, the dance poem "The Great River" will be staged in September.

     "The Great River" is the seventh epic dance poem produced by the Association of Hong Kong Dance Organizations. The production, a totally new work created by a talented team of artists, tells the story of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River in China.

     The dance poem has Law Yiu-wai as its Director of Choreography and will be performed by hundreds of dancers from 20 member organisations of the Association. Apart from mobilising more than 10 local choreographers, this original production also has the professional input of well-known National Class One Choreographer from the Mainland Zhou Peiwu, dancer He Baoyu from Yunnan, and up-and-coming choreographer Li Jia, a graduate of the Beijing Dance Academy. The music for this production is by local veteran composer Chen Ning-chi, who wrote music for the musical "Tales of the Walled City" produced by Hong Kong Dance Company, Hong Kong Repertory Theatre and Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.

     The story revolves around and starts with the odyssey of a fictitious character, the River Nymph. She is born on the remote snow-capped mountains of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and is nurtured by the sun and the snow. She embarks on a journey along her mother rivers, and along the way she takes in the splendour and magnificence of the mountains and rivers while being touched by the greatness of human love. In the face of disaster, she comes to appreciate the hardships and immense courage of her forefathers. Before she finally enters the sea, she encounters in the rivers the heroes of the past who were washed away by time.

     "The Great River" rolls out its uniquely choreographed narrative in panoramic style the draws on the varied customs and exotic character of the ethnic groups of China. Scenes of the rustic Va's hunting and the Dai's romantic serenading along the river, as well as the traumatic droughts and floods, are mixed with the uplifting "Flower Drums of Fengyang" and the poignant reminiscences of the historical site of Chibi. Political drama and tragic battles of China down the ages are presented alongside folklore and fantasies, making this a visually enthralling and inspiring performance.

     "The Great River" by the Association of Hong Kong Dance Organizations will be staged at 8pm on September 28 (Saturday) and at 3pm on September 29 (Sunday) at the Auditorium, Kwai Tsing Theatre. Tickets priced at $180, $150 and $120 are now available at all URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by credit card telephone booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). For the group booking discount, please refer to the programme leaflet for details.

     For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7323; for ticketing enquiries, call 2734 9009. For credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999. Internet bookings are available at www.urbtix.hk. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/dance/program_311.html.

Ends/Monday, August 19, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:42

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