More than 1,200 artists from 24 performing arts groups are joining together to showcase Hong Kong's diversity and creativity at 2010 Shanghai Expo. It is the largest cultural program from the city ever staged outside Hong Kong.

Under the theme "Creativity, Connectivity, Vibrancy", Hong Kong's artists will mount 20 programs and two visual art exhibitions to run the six-month Expo. Organizers consider it a rare opportunity for the artists to showcase their talents to the rest of the world.

"It's estimated everyday the Shanghai Expo will welcome about 400,000 people," said Raymond Young Lap-moon, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, adding it would be a rare chance for Hong Kong artists and cultural practitioners to showcase their work to such a large audience."

The genres of the programs include Cantonese opera, Chinese and Western music, dance, drama, opera, music theatre and multi-media performance.

Betty Fung Ching Suk-yee, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, believes the variety of the presentations will highlight the uniqueness of Hong Kong's cultural scene and provide a cultural exchange platform for artists in Hong Kong and the mainland.

Fung said that some of the performances will be included in Hong Kong Week at the 12th Shanghai International Arts Festival, scheduled for October.

Some of the performers have created special work in honor of the Expo. Willy Tsao, founder and artistic director of City Contemporary Dance Company, is working with Hong Kong choreographers Daniel Yeung Chun-kong and Ong Yong-lock and has designed a dance program, DELT, for the Shanghai Expo.

DELT is a free dance performance to be staged at two shopping malls in Shanghai. It highlights Hong Kong's influence on the lifestyles of modern Chinese, from fashion to dining, living and travel.

China Daily

(HK Edition 04/09/2010 page1)