Online Programme: Clap the Beat Dance in Chic by Dance Educator, Shirley LOONG and Dance Accompanist, Willy NG

An educational project with 5 episodes to promote dance appreciation through understanding and correlating ballet music and ballet movement. Since dance teacher Shirley and pianist Willy have recognized that there is a very strong tie between music and ballet, better understanding of music rhythms could very likely bring some "magical" touch when appreciating ballet productions.

Shirley LOONG
Shirley first started learning ballet at the age of eight under the tutelage of Ms. Jean Wong. In 1986, she was admitted to the National Ballet School of Canada. Upon graduation, she honed her skills further at the John Cranko Ballettschule in Stuttgart, Germany for two years. She is the first Hong Konger ever admitted to this world-renowned dance institute.

Shirley joined The Hong Kong Ballet as a dancer in 1990’s, performing many solo pieces and principal roles in Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Cinderella, Coppelia and Giselle etc. Later on, she completed a Degree in Business Studies with distinction at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, and returned to Hong Kong to begin her career in dance administration. From 2001 to 2004, she was General Manager at the Hong Kong Ballet Group, where she coordinated major productions such as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Young Ballet Stars Award and summer showcases including Cinderella’s Slippers Lost & Found, La Sylphide and Carnival of the Animals.

She rejoined The Hong Kong Ballet in 2005 as the Director of Education and Outreach Department, leading all the dance education activities and lectures for children and across all ages for more than 6 years.

A registered ballet teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance for 20 years, Shirley is often being invited to be the adjudicator for dance competitions and scholarship auditions. She is currently teaching ballet at the City Contemporary Dance Company, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Gifted Dancer Young Programme and the artistic gymnastics team of the Hong Kong Sports Institute.

Shirley also serves as the Chairperson for the Hong Kong Dance Alliance; Chairperson for the Royal Academy of Dance, Hong Kong Committee; and Assessor in Dance for the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.

Willy NG
Willy obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Music degree at the University Of Melbourne, Australia. Apart from classical music, Willy is interested in improvisation and Jazz music. Willy is now a senior accompanist with the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts since 2000. In 2006 and 2018, he participated as an accompanist in the Hong Kong Genee International Ballet Competition. He was honored to be the artist of the Artists-in-Resident Project for the Hong Kong Arts Festival in 2011. He has been the guest pianist of the Royal Academy of Dance, Hong Kong Ballet, Hong Kong Dance Company.  Besides, he is an expert at composing and music arrangement. In 2017, he was the music director in the music-dance theatre performance "Romi & Truly" organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. He was responsible to arrange music for five pianists which ended in great success.

The programme does not represent the views of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.  The presenter reserves the right to vary the broadcast time of the programme. 

Episode 1 (Available from 8 Dec)

Time Signature: 2/4
Rhythm: Polka/ Tango (Habanera)
Movement Demonstration: Travelling jump/ Skipping/ Battement tendus & fondus

Episode 2 (Available from 15 Dec)

Time Signature: 2/4
Rhythm: Rag/ Galop (aka Coda)
Movement Demonstration: Pas de chat/ Small jump/ Posé turns manèges

Episode 3 (Available from 22 Dec)

Time Signature: 3/4
Rhythm: Waltz (Viennese Waltz, Ballroom or Slow Waltz, Grand Waltz, Spanish Waltz)
Movement Demonstration: Pointe work exercises including Pirouettes, Bourrée, Grand allegro

Episode 4 (Available from 29 Dec)

Time Signature: 3/4
Rhythm: Polonaise/ Mazurka
Movement Demonstration: Polonaise steps/ Battement tendus/ Pirouette en dedans

Episode 5 (Available from 7 Jan)

Time Signature: 4/4
Rhythm: March/ 4/4 Adage
Movement Demonstration: Port de bras/ Adage/ Grand battement