Local dancers win grants to attend top US dance forum

Two dance students at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (APA) have been awarded the BAT Dance Grant of $155,000 which will send them to a premier American dance forum.

BAT China announced that the 1997 grants would be awarded to Ada Ho Chui-leung of the Chinese Dance section, and Eve Leung Mei-kar, who is studying musical theatre dance.

The Asian Cultural Council (ACC), a non-profit organisation, has played an important role in obtaining awards and scholarships from corporate sponsors to help local young talent to study and perform overseas.

BAT China was the ACC's first sponsor in 1986.

Since its establishment, the dance grant has funded 25 APA students.

The grantees receive a summer of training at the United States' premier dance forum, the American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina, where they join other international participants for six weeks of intensive training, repertory work and performance.