HONG KONG, MACAU, CHINA BALLROOM and LATIN AMERICAN DANCE DEVELOPMENT When I completed my dance training in the UK, I came back to Hong Kong at the end of 1961. There were many Ballroom dancing venues in Hong Kong. The well known ones were large and nicely decorated, such as the famous Oriental Ballroom and Tonnochy Club where businessmen went to negotiate deals over drinks with pretty glamorous hostesses sitting at the table. There were also other numerous smaller ballroom dancing halls, usually situated in tall buildings with blacked out windows and were open business 24 hours a day. At these kinds of ballroom establishments, people did social dancing; occasionally hostesses would be available for other services at the right price! By the early 1980s there were two luxurious Ballroom venues established at Kowloon East, where men could spend hundreds of thousand dollars in a single visit. The hostesses were very young, beautiful and many were well educated. These establishments were marketed to wealthy Shanghai businessmen who migrated to Hong Kong before the Communist party took over China in 1949. The meaning of Ballroom in Hong Kong was quite different from what we generally held in England in those days. Professional Dance instructors had come from Shanghai in the 1940s to give social dance lessons to these hostesses. In 1965, I started my own Sunday weekly Rediffusion TV programme “Let’s Dance” aired between 5.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. with an aim of promoting dance education in Hong Kong. Based on my dance training, I introduced the historical background, the basic techniques of each form of dance with demonstration and performance. With the help of other local dance teachers, the programme ran for over two years and became a very successful venture. At this time I met the President of Hong Kong Ballroom Dance Association Mr. James Law, who partnered me for the demonstration of Ballroom and Latin American Dance in the programme, Later I joined his Association. At that time, James was the organizer of Ballroom Dance examination for Australian National Dance Association and the Federation of Teachers of Dancing of Australia and it was during this period, I took the Australian Ballroom Examinations.

In the early 1980s, an English gentleman named Paul Bishop began to coordinate an International Ballroom competition with Australian participants. Joan Campbell, a friend and fellow professional of the Hong Kong Ballet Group and I thought it would be a good idea to promote Ballroom dancing in Hong Kong. We were able to secure generous support from Dr. Stanley Ho, President of Hong Kong Ballet Group, who is also fond of social dancing to sponsor Paul’s event. Dr. Ho agreed to sponsor HK$200,000 for the 1985 International Ballroom competition on the condition that three members of the Ballet Group, namely Mrs. Joan Campbell, Mr. David Simpson and I would be sitting on Mr. Paul Bishop’s Hong Kong local organizing committee. There would be a separate bank account especially for the event with David Simpson as the treasurer. All went well until two months before to the Gala night, when Dr. Ho ( Dr. Ho’s introduction ) needed to send out invitation but Mr. Bishop was no where to be found. We were then informed by his wife that he was in hospital in America, and could not be back for the event. We contacted Dance News Ltd. in England Mr. Bobby Short (the overseas organizer) for advice, and we were given three alternatives to solve the problem. 1. Cancel the event, in which case we would lose Dr. Ho’ sponsorship; 2. Postpone the event to a later date; or 3. Appoint someone in Hong Kong to take over Mr. Paul Bishop’s coordination role. At the end I was elected to replace Mr. Bishop as coordinator, since I was the only member in the organizing committee who was bilingual and had knowledge and contacts in Ballroom dancing in England. I immediately flew to London to negotiate terms with Dance News Ltd, which agreed to act as our organizer to select international participants for the event with Mr. John Leach from Dance News as the on-site organizer. 1985 we staged a successful local competition and an International competition with seven international couples participating. The Gala attended by a large number of Dr. Ho’s society friends and senior Government officials was held at the Victoria Hotel. Dr. Ho pledged to carry on with the sponsorship and the Hong Kong Urban Council also immediately agreed to be the presenter of the event the following year. This was the start of a fifteen-year long partnership with me as the coordinator of International Ballroom events and with the Hong Kong Government department as the presenter, which ended in 2002.

1987 a landmark event took place in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou. Ballroom dancing (also known as Social Dancing) had been forbidden in Mainland China since the Cultural Revolution. With the help of the Xin Hau News Agency, (the representative of Chinese Government at that time) and with sponsorship from Dr. Henry Fok, (a wealthy businessman, owner of White Swan Hotel and a patriot of People’s Republic of China (PRC)) the first international ballroom competition was held in China on 27th July 1987 at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou. The event was presented by the Guangzhou International Cultural Exchange Association, the Gala was held at the White Swan Hotel while two other competitions were held at Sung Chung San Memory Hall. During those days, admission control for overseas’ visitors to China was very tight. However, since we had the local Government’s sponsorship, as coordinator of the event, I was able to secure invitations for the Hong Kong committee to go to Guangzhou for a holiday and stayed at the White Swan Hotel. Since Guangzhou International Cultural Exchange Association was the presenter, I made it clear to the Hong Kong committee that the competition had nothing to do with Hong Kong committee. It was a separate event. The inaugural Ballroom events in Guangzhou turned out to be an important stepping-stone for the International Championship in China for the next decade. Coincidently, the Chinese Hong Kong Basic Law Drafting Committee meeting was also being held at the White Swan Hotel and Dr. Henry Fok invited all the members of the Drafting Law Committee to attend the Gala Banquet. That evening, I was the compere and Mr. John Leach acted as the on-sight event organizer. The Ballroom Dance section received warm applause, however, there was dead silence after the Cha Cha, as no one in the audience would dare to show any reaction to the sexy and provocative movements of the unfamiliar Latin dances. Fortunately Madam Lei Jie-qiong, Vice Chairman of the Law Drafting Committee, whom I had met at the First China Arts Festival in Beijing the previous year, stood up and applauded. Everyone then followed her lead, hence easing the tense atmosphere. Ms. Deng Lin elder daughter of Premier Deng Xiao-ping, the architect of China’s open door policy, was also among the guests that evening. I taught her Latin American dance at a Christmas party a year before in Hong Kong. It was her proposal that this event should be held in Beijing the following year. (Guangzhou events photos ).

In 1988, the Beijing International Ballroom event was the historical turning point for Ballroom and Latin American Dance history in China and the world. It was presented as a fund raising event for the China Disabled Persons Association. The President of this association is Premier Deng’s son Deng Pu-fang. The event took place at the Beijing Sport Stadium with 100,000 spectators and was televised by CCTV all over the country. This hugely successful event, Ballroom and Latin American dance officially received the seal of approval from the Chinese Government and became recognized as a legitimate form of culture and recreational activity. On a funny note, I became the joke of China as my Mandarin was so bad and was years later told by Cultural Ministry officials that not one person had understood a word of what I said that evening! (Photos Beijing International ). After Beijing, the competition took place in Shanghai with the Mayor and five of his deputies attending the second night of the event. This was the first time I met Mr. Jian Zi Men, then Mayor of Shanghai who later became Premier of PRC. I was presented to him during the interval, he told me frankly that none of his deputies could understand what I said and he kindly acted as my interpreter! (Premiere Jian Photo ). From 1988 to 2002 Hong Kong Urban Council and the Leisure and Cultural Departments continued to present Ballroom and Latin American events in Hong Kong. Dr. Stanley Ho continued his sponsorship for Hong Kong and Macau. Similar competitions also took place in various major cities in China with their own local presenter. Visiting international Champions also played an important role in the promotion and up-graded the standard of Chinese dancers by giving lectures and demonstrations free of charge during the tour. (Programmes leaflets ). In 1998, two Chinese couples were given a grant by the Guangzhou Government to receive training in London. David Yin Wei-dong / Angel Long Wei-min; Latin Green Li Zhao-lin / Rose Li Xiao-yuan; Ballroom Since returning to Guangzhou, They have represented China in many International competitions and won many awards. Their students have also achieved very good results in Blackpool and other International Championships. In 2009 David was the first Chinese to lecture in Blackpool about the methods of training for Team Match Dance, which the Chinese team had won titles three years consecutively.

Nowadays people dance everywhere in China. Whether it is raining or sunshine, morning or evening, you will find people dance by the riverside, in parks, anywhere with space. They use a hand cassette radio and regardless whether they regard ballroom dancing as a form of art or as sport to keep fit that does not matter, old and young just enjoy dancing!

(Photos people’s dance ).

In 1990 an amateur association was formed under the Ministry of Culture.The Dancesport Association was formed under the Sport Council. Both organizations are now members of International organizations. I remain an advisor to both organizations. Ballroom and Latin American Dances have become so popular in Hong Kong and China, with demand still growing fast and there is a great demand for good dance instructors. Many International Champions have established studios in Hong Kong. Chinese competitors continue to achieve good results in international competitions, such as Yin Wei-dong and Long Wei-min, they were the first Chinese Latin couple ranked UK World Rising Star Professional Latin Final in 2002. Nowadays according to the record number of entries for International events around the world, Chinese participants outnumber their counterparts elsewhere. To keep an event running for 20 years, apart from ensuring good quality and good standard, the format of the programme had to be changed to incorporate something new each year. The programmes were changed from Amateur 5 Dance Championships; Amateur 10 dance Championship; Team Match; Amateur Professional performances; World Dance performances; World professional 5 Dance Championship; World Professional 10 Dance Championship.

To make the show more interesting, I added other forms of performing dances, such as: •

Exhibition Dance; Show dance; Line Dance; Rock and Roll and Argentine Tango; Ross Mitchell Live Band;

•

Used well-known TV artists as compere;

• •

Arranged lectures prior to the event; Organized exhibition of Dance costumes and world champions’ photos;

•

We set up VIP tables around the dance floor, experimented with different décor, and added lighting effects with drinks served to create the atmosphere of a “Grand Ballroom”.

•

Audience participation segment was introduced where guest teachers taught the audience to do the A-go-go; the Twist and the Line Dance during the intervals.

It was a great advantage to be under the auspices of Hong Kong Government. Their presentation and sponsorship was a mark of good quality. With Government subsidies, ticket prices could be kept low, and affordable to the public. The Government department’s responsibility was to provide the venue, publicity, poster design, programme notes etc. This arrangement suited me well as I was working on my own. The China tour was extended too many cities that Dance News could no longer afford to allow Mr. John Leach to be away from England for such a length of time and in 1990 he had to relinquish his long held post as our on-site organizer. Mr. Bill Irvine, MBE, and 13 times World Professional Ballroom and Latin American Dance Champion, then agreed to be my Hon. Advisor and to negotiate participating International couples on my behalf. I acted as the tour coordinator; on-site organizer; compere and translator. The job took up so much of my time that by 1990 I had to give up my Ballet School and changed my career to become an impresario. I was extremely lucky to have a very capable and professional stage coordinator, Ms. Law Hung, who took care of all technical details on site and was always ready with helping hands.

To celebrate the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997, I worked with TVB to present two programmes: • 1996 South East Asia Chinese Ballroom and Latin American Dance Championship, and • 1997 International Chinese Ballroom and Latin American Dance Championship. (DVD included, thus Ballroom dance reached to everyone in Hong Kong) By 2002 Ballroom dancing became so popular in Hong Kong that it was no longer linked with girly bars and dimly lit dance halls. It was considered a mainstream social activity. Wealthy high society ladies began to invite International champions to Hong Kong to be their own personal tutors and partner them in social functions. Some of these wealthy ladies even opened dance studios for their tutors to operate. The working terms and fees of these international champions had become ludicrously high that the government could not afford to pay such large sums to promote Ballroom Dancing. A certain Hong Kong lady was alleged to have paid her personal dancing tutor an unbelievable advance payment of tuition fees of HK $12,000,000 and ended up in court when the partnership split-up. The case became an international talking point. In 2002 a group of wealthy ladies also began to organize an international Ballroom dance performance with commercial sponsorship and business model as the event sponsored by the Government. Their terms for the participants were so favorable that it was well beyond what the Government could afford to pay for promoting of ballroom dancing. Rather than allow the standard of the event to drop, I decided to give up staging the event. Which just showed another aspect of my character, “ALL OR NOTHING!” In 2005 I was commissioned by Leisure and Cultural Services Department to coordinate a programme of Latin Fantasia – Parade of Samba and Latin Dance for “The Latin Passion Festival”. Once again Dr. Stanley Ho sponsored the event to tour Macau. To the general public, the International Ballroom and Latin American event seemed to have operated successfully each year, but in fact there were many troubling issues behind the scenes, mainly due to hostile attitude that I had been promoting the events with Government’s support, and I am not teaching Ballroom and acted as an impresario.

The Hong Kong Ballroom Council is a member of the International Council of Ballroom of Dancing (ICBD) and under its charter any Ballroom dance competition staged in the area must obtain permission from the local Council and pay a certain amount of fees. Local competitors either have to be its member or else one has no right to stage any such event. The Council would forbid its members and overseas judges and competitors to participate in any event that was staged without their permission. I strongly object to this rule, which created a monopolistic position for one organization to take over control of a community recreation activity. Moreover I am of the conviction that the lifespan of a dancer may be very short, thus all should be given every opportunity to dance. Rather than submit to this draconian rule, I changed the format of the event to Professional standard. However, there continued to be such a great deal of groundless accusations against me personally that we had to straighten the matter at the ICBD / WDC headquarters in London. Still, Hong Kong Ballroom Dancing Council continued to send letters to the Government departments concerned and threatened to stop international participation. This on-going issue took up an inordinate amount of my time and effort, and I constantly had to deal with malicious assaults, which had made life extremely difficult for all concerned. Fortunately I continued to receive the support and trust of my friends in the London dance circle; Dr. Stanley Ho, Hong Kong SAR Government and Chinese authorities, all of which have enabled me to further develop my work in promoting Ballroom, Latin American Dance and other form of cultural activities in Hong Kong and in the Mainland. ( Letters from HKBDC ). When I made up my mind to do something, which I considered good for the development of dance, I go ahead no matter how bad the circumstance that may arise. The extended tour with 40 members from 1988, 13 countries representatives, one couple of Ballroom and one couple of Latin lasting over three weeks, anything could happen from delay of air flights; sickness, temperament of participants etc. This required I call on my training from the Arts Education School, to adept to the situation accordingly on the spot. The success of Ballroom and Latin American Dance being able to take place in China, much depended on the help of Chinese high officials. ( List of Chinese officials and photos ).

Factors that contributed the success of Ballroom and Latin American Dance From the leisure point of view: It a social asset, provide social contact and understanding of partnership. No age barrier. Relaxation and enjoy the atmosphere with good music. Relive youth and sweet memories. As Sport: Physical training. Improve self-confidence and self-esteem. Income award as a career. The attraction of the glittering atmosphere of the venue. I really feel proud to be part of the historical development of Ballroom and Latin Dance in Hong Kong, China and the World.

FACTORS THAT AFFECTED THE DEVELPOMENT OF BALLROOM and LATIN AMERICAN DANCE IN CHINA The right timing. Economic reforms and the open door policy of China spearheaded by Premier Deng Xiao-ping in 1978, followed by Hong Kong returning to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. 1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

China’s economy was performing at its economic peak since the establishment of People’s Republic of China. My professional association with China’s Hong Kong representative at the Xin Hua News Agency. My personal friendship with Premier Deng’s family and other senior PRC officials and the Cultural Ministry. The advantage of Hong Kong Government to pay participants the international air fares to Hong Kong, thus China only had to pay for domestic transportation, which greatly reduced the cost for the China tour. Hong Kong business people were keen to make contact and connections with China by sponsoring Government-approved events. International dance champions were happy to visit and explore China. They were prepared to view the trips as a holiday with little or no payment. China is a populated country, which provides unlimited potential in finding hard working and ambitious dancers with good physique. Young dancers viewed Ballroom as a short cut to success, fame and a good future. Most dancers were already trained by the state dance academy at an early age; therefore they already possessed strong dance basic technique and musical sense.

The recorded Chinese entry of 2010 for BACKPOOL BRITISH CHAMPIONISHIP was 180 couples. ( Newspaper publicity from Dance News )

FACTORS AFFECTED THE DEVELOPMENY OF BALLROOM and LATIN AMERICAN DANCE IN HONG KONG 1.

Hong Kong Chinese parents did not think well of Ballroom dance, largely due to the stigma of girlie bars and dark dubious dance halls of the 60’s. Only wealthy families might send their children to Ballroom dance as part of the social

2.

etiquette. Parents preferred their children to prioritize academic qualifications.

3.

The Hong Kong education systems are examination orientated, thus allowing

4.

5.

6.

7.

very little free time for young people to participate in the competitions. Those who could afford the time and money to learn ballroom were university graduates with a successful career and those with spare money, however they are then a little too old to be trained as international competitors. In the last ten years, Ballroom dancing has become a popular past time of wealthy ladies, who embraced it as part of the social life or as a form of exercise to re-live their youth. They could afford to pay extremely high tuition fees for good International teachers, which young prospective competitors could no longer afford. This jeopardized the progress of standard of Hong Kong competitors. In 1996 Ballroom has been accepted by the Hong Kong Government as Dancesport and the Hong Kong Dancesport Association Ltd. is recognized as an official Hong Kong represented body and being partly subsidized by the Government. The Association changed its name to World Dancesport Federation Ltd. in 2011. With members and dancers from the age of five to professional standard, The Association has managed to achieve quantity, but quality needs improvement. I am also the Hon. President of the Association. ( Publicity of Hong Kong Newspapers )

FACTORS AFFECTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF BALLROOM and LATIN AMERICAN DANCE IN MACAU 1.

Macau is a casino city, thus Ballroom dancing is only considered as a form of public entertainment.

2.

Despite Dr. Stanley Ho’s continuous annual sponsorship for the International

3.

event to Macau, it was staged as a social event more than a cultural activity. In Macau, the salary of a non-graduates working in the casino is much higher than any other profession.

4.

Why make a slave of oneself for the title of International champion!

MY PERSONAL OPINION OF BALLROOM AND DANCSPORT DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG NOWADAYS For the social point of view many rich society people enjoy the dance as social pastime and keep fit. But the payment fees for tuition and partnering them to attend function are so high that it has jeopardized the training of young talented dancers, as they cannot afford the current fees for international teachers. The Hong Kong Dancesport Association Ltd. member of International Dancesport Federation, recognized and partly subsidized by Hong Kong Government did a good job and has a dream and planning for the future of Hong Kong Dancesport, they have now achieved quantity but not quality. However ROME is not built in a day, but at least with hard work, the dream may come true in 5 or 10 years. One thing good about this Association is it does not control and bar other organizations’ participation in their events.

The Association’s members participate in the Annual Hong Kong School Dance Festival under the auspices of the Education Department. Participant entries are from kindergartens to secondary level. I realize that sport has to be trained at the early age, but there is a suitable time for everything. One has to be careful of the physical contact and the glittering vanity of the competitions. Research shows that the competitors mostly come from new immigrants families. Competition training take up too much of the youngers time and jeopardized the academic school progress.