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Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and performed by Inner Mongolia Nationality Music and Dance Opera Troupe, "For the Love of the Grassland" is a combination of artistic, ethnic, appreciative nature of Mongolian dance and music concert. This performance of Mongolian song and dance is an inside look at the customs, habits and cultural identity of the Mongolian people.

It comprises of rich living habits, colourful ethnic culture, unique individualistic aesthetic quality and the use of creative and innovative presentation style. It embraces both the traditional and contemporary aspects of Mongolian artistic culture. The programme includes Matouqin solo "The Two Steeds of Genghis Khan" and "The Matouqin Player" and "The Wolf", Female Group Dance "Fire Dance" and "Chopsticks Dance", Female Solo - Pastoral Singing "The Shepherdess", Male Group Dance "Rodeo Dance", Male & female duet "Rendezvous on the Mound" and Dizi solo "The Te'ergele Grassland Faraway".

Inner Mongolia Nationality Music and Dance Opera Troupe was founded after a merger the former Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Troupe and the Inner Mongolia Nationality Theatre. It constitutes 12 groups including a Song and Dance Troupe, a Monggol Theatre, a symphony orchestra, a Monggol nationality Youth Choir, a Monggol Nationality Orchestra and a Film and Television Centre. The Theatre, hailed as the "Proud Eagle of the Grassland", is the largest professional performing arts group in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, enjoying wide acclaim at home and abroad.

Its 400 plus performing and staff members have been drawn from more than ten ethnic minorities, including the Mongolia l, Han, Daur, Ewenki, Manchu, Hui and Chaoxian(Korean) ethnic groups. The Theatre has taken their stock repertoire of outstanding productions to all parts of China, as well as on performing tours to over 20 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America, earning critical and popular acclaim. The Theatre has made immense contribution to the promotion of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and artistic exchange with the outside world.

To be performed in the Hong Kong performance will be National Class One Performer Dawasangbu (Vocalist), National Class Two Performer Guo Liru (Vocalist), National Class Two Performer Hugejiletu (Vocalist), National Class Two Performer Aotegenbaya'er (Instrumentalist) and dancer Hujitu, etc.

"For the Love of the Grassland" will be presented in Mongolian with Chinese and English programme information. The performance will be staged at 8 pm on December 14 (Saturday) and 3 pm on December 15 (Sunday) at Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall. Tickets priced at $150, $120 and $90 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (Discount tickets for students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). Box seats and lounge package available for sale. Please call 2268 7224 for details.

For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7323; for ticketing enquiries and reservation, please call 2734 9009; for credit card telephone booking, please call 2111 5999. To search more information on internet, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp

End/Thursday, November 14, 2002

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