The International Arts Carnival, an annual summer event, offers performing arts programmes and educational arts activities for families, youth and young children in the form of dance, multi-media theatre, puppet theatre, comedy, music and children’s films.
 |
|
An amusing performance at the opening ceremony of the International Arts Carnival 2011, an annual summer festival for the whole family. |
|
The 2011 carnival opened with a spectacular acrobatic performance by the Moscow Circus on Ice. Other highlights by renowned arts groups from around the world included: the Spaghetti Western Orchestra from Australia; Parken and Nikolaïs Celebration by the Introdans Ensemble for Youth from The Netherlands; Circus by the Demmeni Marionette Theatre from Russia; Genesis by the Meridiano Teatret from Denmark; Les Âmes Nocturnes by the Le Shlemil Théâtre from France and Plastic Fantastic by the Mimirichi Clowns and Pantomime Theatre from Ukraine.
 |
|
Moscow Circus on Ice kicks off the International Arts Carnival 2011. The fabulous performance combined ice-skating and traditional Russian acrobatics. |
|
Local artists added colour to the carnival with the Prodigies From Around the World by the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, featuring performances by four talented young musicians, Ball Ball Show by Harry Wong, My Beautiful Life by the Trinity Theatre and Twelfth Night by the Hong Kong Theatre Work.
It also involved pre-carnival school tours, community outreach performances, school culture day programmes, exhibitions and workshops. The carnival provided a platform for the 2011 International Choral Jazz and Mass Participatory Musicking Festival, co-presented by the Hong Kong Institute of Education and the Hong Kong Association for Music Educators.
Thirty local and 11 visiting arts groups participated in 411 carnival events, from July 8 to August 14, 2011, attracting an audience of 143 583. The average attendance at ticketed events was 92 per cent.
The fourth edition of the World Cultures Festival presented in 2011 under the theme ‘Enchanting Arts of Asia’, showcased many facets of Asian arts and culture.
The festival was kicked off with a diverse programme of ballet classics by the highly-acclaimed National Ballet of China, and concluded with a selection of old and new yueju favourites by the Shanghai Yueju Opera House and the five-star Asian première of DESH by the celebrated British-Bangladeshi dance-master Akram Khan.
 |
|
The world-renowned National Ballet of China mesmerises audiences at the World Cultures Festival 2011 with The Red Detachment of Women, a boldly innovative classical ballet. |
|
The festival gave audiences a taste of innovative works by Asian artists, including: Song of Pensive Beholding by the Legend Lin Dance Theatre of Taiwan; The Manganiyar Seduction which fused traditional Indian music and contemporary stagecraft; and Celestial Songs, a concert by local composer Lam Man-yee and a group of eminent Asian singers and artists.
 |
|
The performance by legendary Japanese Taiko drummer Eitetsu Hayashi was a highlight of the World Cultures Festival 2011 - Enchanting Arts of Asia programme. |
|
Other highlights included: Taiko Legend by Eitetsu Hayashi from Japan; Splendour of Korea by the Chae Hyang Soon Dance Company from Korea; Iridescent Balinese Gamelan and Dance by the Gong Tri Pitaka from Indonesia; outdoor performances by the Thang Long Water Puppet Troupe from Vietnam; and the local theatre production Our Best of Youth in Cambrian by the Princess’ Black Box.
During the month-long festival, 22 visiting and 72 local artists/arts groups presented 146 events. They also included workshops, master classes, school tours, student shows, exhibitions, foyer and outdoor performances and talks in selected restaurants and tertiary institutions. The festival attracted an audience of 143 085, with an average attendance of 91 per cent for ticketed events.
