What to see: Hong Kong's own rebel choreographer Daniel Yeung takes stereotypical ideas of masculinity and creates a playful dance about the brotherhood of man, literally. Performed by an all-male troupe, Yeung's production, Playboys, has overt homosexual overtones and is an exploration of gender identity and conflicts. A blend of ballet, gymnastics, modern dance and martial arts makes this a variety show full of verve and gives Hong Kong a voice among the stellar international line-up of the Arts Festival.
March 14 to 17, 8pm, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Shouson Theatre, Wan Chai. $100-$180 from Urbtix (tel: 20734 9009).
What to hear: Most people may have never heard of Sado Island in Japan but this tiny piece of land off the country's western coast has an unusual past - historically it was a place of exile and a former prison colony. Some of its famous inhabitants included Buddhist priest Nichiren and Noh dramatist Zeami, who wrote important pages in Sado Island's cultural history as they helped define a unique form of folk music and theatre which were enjoyed by their fellow prisoners. Japanese instrumentalist Yasukazu Kano offers a piece of Sado's history in his performance tonight of Yasu: Harmonies From Sado Island, using traditional Japanese instruments such as the taiko drum, shamisen (string instrument) and toki (bamboo flute, left). An accomplished musician who is equally apt at jamming African rhythms and playing jazz improvisation, Kano's appearance is part of a series of programmes on Japan presented by the Asia Society in Hong Kong. Tonight, 7.30pm, China Tee Club, 12 Pedder St, Central. Tickets $300 from Asia Society (tel: 2103 9508).
What to see: Local painter Pauline Courtney is hosting an open house exhibition. Sri Lankan-born Courtney, who has devoted her career to creating vibrant and colourful figurative works, is showing a retrospective exhibition at her early 20th-century colonial villa in Pokfulam. The two-day show features more than 40 mixed-media works spanning the past five years. Her primitive but expressive strokes are inspired by her long-time profession as a primary school teacher. March 16 and 17, 10am to 6pm. 4 Felix Villas, 61 Mount Davis Road, Pokfulam. For more information call 9550 0934.
