Chung Ying Theatre

Chung Ying Theatre Company was established in 1979. Its mission is to nurture artistic excellence through the development of new plays, theatre-in-education projects and training of theatre practitioners. In 2005, the company introduced a number of works to the audience, including two by local playwrights: One of the Lucky Ones (Step I & Step II), adapted from memoirs of the first blind person to receive The Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award and The School and I, a true story about a village school 10 years ago. The company continued school touring project, Forum Theatre (Moral Truth for 4R), during the year. The project was funded by the Education and Manpower Bureau's (EMB's) Quality Education Fund.

City Contemporary Dance Company

The City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) was established in 1979. It is a professional dance company that nurtures the best talent to create dance in the context of modern China. In 2005, the company's productions included a new work, Colour Fugue, by its resident choreographer, Helen Lai. The company was invited to perform in the Festival of China at John F Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington DC and also performed at the Hunter College in New York. The CCDC Dance Centre offered a great variety of dance courses to the public, and developed new audiences through its outreach programmes. The centre received the Hong Kong Dance Alliance Dance Award 2005 for its outstanding contribution to Hong Kong dance development.

Hong Kong Ballet

Hong Kong Ballet is one of the leading professional classical ballet companies in Asia.

In 2005, the company was invited to perform its original work, Legend of the Great Archer, at Beijing's Poly Theatre and Turandot and The Last Emperor at the Santander International Festival in Spain.

Hong Kong Ballet presents a broad-based repertoire that includes classical ballets as well as original productions. In 2005, the company produced two new works: Spartacus, a ballet set in ancient Rome, choreographed by Irek Mukhamedov, the former Principal Dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet and Royal Ballet and Madama Butterfly, choreographed by Australian Natalie Weir.

The company received two prizes in the Hong Kong Dance Awards 2005. Principal Dancer Nobuo Fujino won an award for his outstanding performances throughout 2004, and Virginia Chu, Head of Wardrobe, received one for her costume designs for Legend of the Great Archer. The company was also invited by the Hong Kong Central Library to jointly organise an exhibition 'On Your Toes — Portrait of the Hong Kong Ballet' from January 11 to February 28, which attracted great numbers of admiring eyes on the rich display of ballet related items and activity photos.

Apart from mainstream productions, the company's Education and Outreach Department organised 586 activities which attracted 24 764 participants. The eight projects completed in 2005 included Cultural Ambassador — Cinderella Magic, Artist-in-School (English Project) and the Multi-media Dance Education Project.

Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

Founded in 1977, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra was incorporated as a non-profit-making organisation in 2001. It is now the only professional, full-size Chinese orchestra in Hong Kong. Under the Artistic Director Yan Huichang, the 85-strong orchestra has gained international recognition.

During the year, the orchestra gave more than 100 regular, outreach and special concerts. On tour, it performed in Washington, New York and at the 9th Investment & Trade Forum for Cooperation between East and West China in Xian. The orchestra also joined others in Beijing for a performance of Zhao Jiping's symphony, Ode to Peace.

The Orchestra has runs the Hong Kong Children Chinese Orchestra, the Junior Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and instrumental classes. It also joins forces with the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and other universities on music education projects. In 2005, the orchestra expanded its service to the community by setting up the 'Music for Love' scheme to bring Chinese music to the under-privileged.

Hong Kong Dance Company

The Hong Kong Dance Company was founded in 1981 and incorporated as a non-profit-making organisation in 2001. The company is committed to promoting the art of Chinese dance and dance drama with a unique Hong Kong style. Over the years, the company has staged more than 100 productions by Mainland, overseas and local choreographers. It has also performed on the Mainland and overseas to foster cultural exchange.

In May, the company launched the 8F Platform at its dance studio, an experimental platform to explore and expand creative performances, facilitate collaboration with artists in dance and theatre arts, and provide a space for arts education and audience development. A total of four productions were staged by the company, which is under the leadership of Artistic Director Hu Jialu.

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is fast becoming Asia's leading orchestra since the internationally renowned Edo de Waart joined as artistic director and chief conductor in the 2004-05 season. It gives over 100 performances annually for the local community, from core symphonic classics to Canto-pop. Highlights in 2005 included opera-in-concert performances of Richard Strauss's Salome and Elektra with a stellar cast of singers, the John Adams project, which culminated in a joint concert with students of the Academy for Performing Arts, and Mahler's Fifth Symphony, as part of the complete Mahler cycle, under the baton of Edo de Waart. Music education and outreach play an important role in the orchestra's mission. The annual education programme introduced classical music to over 70 000 students. The orchestra also gave a first-ever week-long free lunchtime concert series for the public at the AIG Tower.

Hong Kong Repertory Theatre

Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, founded in 1977 and incorporated as a non-profit-making arts organisation in 2001, is the first professional drama theatre in Hong Kong. Its extensive repertoire is performed mostly in Cantonese, with Putonghua used for selected productions. Other than original works, the company also performs adaptations of foreign plays and modern theatre classics. During the year, the company staged 10 productions of different genres in 145 performances, including 12 student performances. In October, the company staged six performances of Love in a Fallen City in Shanghai. Apart from its major productions, the company toured 146 schools, organised four summer drama camps and presented over 40 sessions of theatre workshops and talks for youths and the community.

Hong Kong Sinfonietta

The Hong Kong Sinfonietta was founded in 1990 and turned professional in 2000. It is an orchestra of predominantly local musicians with a mission to keep orchestral music alive. Led by Music Director Yip Wing-sie, the orchestra, commissions new works, collaborates with other art forms, designs interactive educational concerts and gives regular concerts. In 2005, the orchestra gave over 60 performances, both in Hong Kong and abroad. In the summer, it performed at three festivals in France and Lithuania, and became the first orchestra from China to present a concert at the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall. Guest artists this year ranged from internationally-renowned violinists Shlomo Mintz and Renaud Capuçon to local choreographer Yuri Ng, comedian Jim Chim and movie star Karena Lam.

Theatre Ensemble

Established in 1993 under the artistic direction of the co-founders and associate artistic directors Jim Chim and Olivia Yan, Theatre Ensemble endeavours to create physical theatre works that are creative and humorous.

In 2004, Theatre Ensemble and Hong Kong Arts Centre launched the first pioneering residence programme, PIP Let's Play, which represents a long-term partnership heralding a synthesis of venue, arts education, cultural activities and talents development. The company, which has its own rehearsal space and performing venue, also contributes to arts education through various art courses including professional performing arts, living art and children art organised by its PIP School.

Zuni Icosahedron

Zuni Icosahedron is a multimedia experimental theatre group. Since its inception in 1982, it has played an important role in developing new frontiers for Hong Kong's cultural scene. It has been active in theatre productions as well as in the areas of arts education, arts criticism and arts policy research.

In 2005, Zuni produced and presented over 100 performances. Productions included, 18 Springs (multimedia music theatre), East Wing West Wing 4 — West Kowloon Side Story (Social Theatre Series) and CORBU (multimedia architecture music theatre series. Zuni also continued to organise multimedia theatre workshops and joint-school performances for students.