The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) announced today that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hong Kong Dance Company (HKDance) to join forces in nurturing professional Chinese dance talents for Hong Kong and the region, promoting Chinese dance to the community.
The MOU signing ceremony was held on 11 October 2024 (Friday) at the Xiqu Centre in WestK at the opening of the HKDance 2024/25 Dance Season. The MOU was signed by Professor Anna CY Chan, Dean of the School of Dance of HKAPA and Meggy Cheng, Executive Director of HKDance, with the attendance of stakeholders from both organisations.
The MOU outlines a three-year collaboration between the two parties. Through the strategic partnership, the Company and the Academy will establish various cooperative relationships contributing to the long-term development of Chinese dance in Hong Kong, fostering a sustainable ecosystem through professional dance training, experiences, mentorship, and career development to bring a positive impact to the cultural life of the city. The collaboration will commence with a series of potential initiatives including master classes by HKDance artistic staff, annual auditions and performance opportunities for HKAPA students, internships, youth training, and dance science development.
Meggy Cheng, Executive Director of HKDance, said, “HKDance and HKAPA are great partners for discovering and nurturing Chinese dance talents and connecting them with local, regional and international audiences. Currently, more than 70% of our dancers are HKAPA graduates including our first home-grown Principal Dancer Ho Ho-fei. This partnership with HKAPA is significant in terms of accelerating the growth of Chinese dance professionals in Hong Kong. With the longstanding commitment of HKDance, we will actively support this partnership to foster synergy in nurturing local talents and empowering artistic communities in Hong Kong and the region.”
Professor Anna CY Chan, Dean of the School of Dance of HKAPA, said: “The close collaborative relationship between HKAPA and the professional dance industry, exemplified by partnerships with the HK Dance Company, is vital for maintaining the relevance and quality of HKAPA's dance training programmes. This symbiotic exchange not only enables HKAPA to produce well-rounded, industry-ready graduates who can successfully transition into professional dance careers, but also underscores our unwavering commitment to providing the highest standard of dance education in Hong Kong. Together, we are enhancing Hong Kong's ecosystem of accomplished dance professionals and shaping the future of dance education in the region. This year marks the 40th Anniversary of HKAPA, we will continue to uphold our mission of nurturing talents in performing arts education and contributing to cultural developments in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and beyond.”
In celebration of the 40th Anniversary, the Academy will present, throughout the academic year, a myriad of engaging events with the aim to showcase the exceptional talents of our students from the six Schools and its achievements over the past four decades. Highlights in October include HKAPA PerformTech Symposium 2024: Staging the Future of Performing Arts, Lincoln Center Chamber Music Series and 40 Years of Brilliance – Inheriting the Artistic Legacy: HKAPA 40th Anniversary Performance Showcase. Open Day 2025 presented next March and an original musical featuring all six Schools in May 2025 are also major events that should not be missed. For details on the celebratory events, please visit the website: https://www.hkapa.edu/hkapa40a.
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The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), established by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Ordinance in 1984, is a leading tertiary institution in the performing arts in Asia. It provides professional undergraduate education and practice-based postgraduate studies. The study encompasses Chinese Opera, Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Its educational philosophy reflects the cultural diversity of Hong Kong with emphasis on Chinese and Western traditions, and interdisciplinary learning.
Since 2008, the Academy has attained the Programme Area Accreditation (PAA) status awarded by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) to self-monitor and accredit its own undergraduate and post-secondary programmes in the five programme areas of Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Since 2016, the PAA status has been extended to cover Master’s Degree programmes and below; and since 2023, the programmes operated by the School of Chinese Opera accredited by HKCAAVQ has also received PAA status for its post-secondary and undergraduate programmes.
Besides the main campus in Wanchai, Béthanie, the site of the Academy’s Landmark Heritage Campus in Pokfulam, has housed training facilities for the School of Film and Television since 2006.
In the QS University Rankings announced in 2024, the Academy ranks 1st in Asia in the Performing Arts category.