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Jockey Club continues support for Arts Festival in 2019 by bringing in world-class performances
21/02/2019
The leading annual arts event in town, the Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF), opened on 21 February this year with a wide array of world class performances.
As a long-term partner of the HKAF, the Club’s Charities Trust has enabled this highly-regarded arts festival to bring in three pillar programmes under The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series each year since 2008. This year the Series features the festival’s opening show, the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra with world-renowned conductor Marin Alsop; Wagner’s Tannhäuser performed by Oper Leipzig; and the Beethoven Project by Hamburg Ballet.
Last year’s opening of Tai Kwun has provided a new venue for staging arts performances. A two-weekend dance event, HKartsFestival@TaiKwun, is being staged at the new landmark this year. Combining contemporary arts with city heritage, HKartsFestival@TaiKwun features dance battles, workshops and contemporary dance performances by more than 80 local and international artists, as well as over 100 participants recruited from the community.
Other exciting performances and associated events include:
Always By Your Side, a musical drama under the Jockey Club Local Creative Talents Series. This is a heart-warming original story by playwright Roger Lee, following his multiple award-winning film A Simple Life and the widely-acclaimed HKAF theatre production The Amahs. It traces the extraordinary journey of young people with autism, dyslexia and ADHD who find fulfilment in life through music.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Contemporary Dance Series, which promotes local talent by featuring young dancers and their innovative works. This year’s series comprises three programmes: Dance off, Double Bubble and Elephant in the Room. The Club’s Charities Trust is also supporting educational and outreach activities that will give 6,000 students the opportunity to learn more about contemporary dance.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Student Matinee Programme, allowing 3,200 students to enjoy free performances of Nutcracker by Hamburg Ballet on 14 and 16 March. To enhance their appreciation of the programmes, pre-show guided talks are being organised for students to learn about the performers and content of the programme. As in previous years, the Club’s Charities Trust is funding a transport subsidy scheme to help students from remote districts enjoy these programmes.
