Revival sees top hotels go strictly ballroom

A BALLROOM revival is sweeping Hong Kong dancers off their feet, with the territory's top hotels investing millions of dollars restoring run-down ballrooms to their former glory.

Paul Bishop, principal of the Hong Kong Academy of Dance, has been astounded by the recent growth of ballroom dancing.

''My classes are growing all the time,'' he said. ''Anyone can dance ballroom. The basic steps are easy to pick up. Seeing how popular it is becoming, Hong Kong's hotels want a slice of the action, too.

''We have people of all ages taking up ballroom dancing,'' Mr Bishop said.

The Regent hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui has splashed out $10 million redecorating its ballroom. Redefined and beautified by famous American interior designers Hirsch Bedner, the new ballroom will open at the end of the month.

The Conrad is spending $32 million on its lobby and ballroom overhaul. The focal point of the project is $770,000 worth of artwork commissioned from French painter Benoit Dupuis, who has travelled to Hong Kong with four assistants. The lobby escalators have been replaced with a sweeping spiral staircase which takes guests to the French Renaissance-style ballroom. Work is expected to be completed early next month.