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Reggie Ho

MAGGI SIETSMA, the dean of the School of Dance at the Academy for Performing Arts, hopes to see dance included in the school curriculum. Not only would that lead to the early discovery of talent, it would also create a wider audience.

'City Contemporary Dance Company and the Hong Kong Dance Company have been doing a lot of work to educate people about dance, but we really need to get it into the curriculum,' she said.

Pilot programmes are in the pipeline. The  academy is sending teachers to schools to offer courses in theatre and dance.

'The Education and Manpower Bureau is very keen to introduce creative arts into schools. Our school is keen to start offering programmes for young people, not just to become performers but to learn to appreciate dance,' she said.

Some schools in countries such as Australia and the United States offer dance in the curriculum, and the benefits are obvious.

'Dance is quite an accepted part of the curriculum in Western Australia, where I live,' said Nanette Hassall, head of the dance department at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth.

'There are specialist dance schools and special dance programmes in 11 high schools. There are also many private schools in ballet and Spanish dance. Studying dance is as normal as taking maths and English.'

The absence of dance from the main curriculum in Hong Kong is an obstacle to nurturing talent, because certain types of dance require an early start.

'With ballet you should be starting at six to seven years old,' Ms Sietsma said. 'I have known girls who started around 12 to 14. They had pretty feet and lovely physiques, but it's much easier to start early. Classical ballet is a codified language and the later you start, the more difficult it is to get into.'

Because ballet is not part of the school curriculum, children have to pay for classes and many cannot afford it.

Early exposure to dance also gives children the opportunity to develop a passion for it.

'Some young people want to study dance because their parents took them to dance classes,' said Ms Sietsma.

One of her former dancers literally had a twist in fate when he accompanied his sister to ballet classes as a child. 'The teacher said to him: Instead of sitting on the bench for 1? hours waiting for your sister, why not join in?'

He did, and the rest is history.

'Dancers have a burning desire to dance. It's a part of their soul, not something to consider in a cold and calculated way. They get the bug and it won't let go,' said Ms Sietsma.

'I have seen men of 25  with a degree in business or marketing come to auditions because that's always been what they've really wanted to do,' Ms Sietsma said.

Those who start at that late age may not  become leading performers, but they can still make a contribution to the art, and even shine in aspects of dance, such as choreography.

Carol Walker, dean of the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College in New York, said: 'Many of our alumni become members of modern dance and ballet companies, some establish their own companies, a few dance on Broadway, some become freelance choreographers and some start their own studios. Many become professors in higher education after their performing careers.'

But whatever the city - even in New York - there never seems to be enough opportunities for artistic talent.

'We definitely need more opportunities for all the gifted dancers and choreographers. Some go overseas for work,' Ms Walker said. 'We have had two alumni who were members of the City Contemporary Dance Company.'

International events such as the Hong Kong Dance Festival serve as learning opportunities for dance students, as well as meeting places.

'Western Australia is quite isolated. My students don't see a lot of international work. It's very important to get a sense of benchmarking with other dancers and institutions and network with people who are part of the dance community,' said Ms Hassall.

Ms Walker agreed: 'This festival brings together dancers, their faculties and their deans for a global experience in dance.

'At Purchase, we have initiated exchange programmes with five other training programmes as a direct result of attending these festivals. We are so pleased to be returning to Hong Kong.'

For Ms Sietsma, the Hong Kong Dance Festival is also exciting on a personal level.

'There are eight to nine academies performing original works that only people in their respective countries have seen. Some of them will premiere here and are new to me. I will be in the audience every night,' she said. 'I hope people get on board for these great opportunities.'



Education nurtures the art