The Review 2008

The Review 2008 Professor Chow Shew-Ping ‘University Relations’ is the portfolio of the new Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chow, who is also Chair of Orthopaedics and Trauma- tology, and he sees it as both an end and a means. On the one hand it generates support for the University to sustain its world-class teaching and research programmes, on the other hand it equips scholars and students to support the community with their knowledge and skills. “Our relationships help us to generate funding, human resources, space which is so expensive in Hong Kong, and social capital. We have a clear goal in all this, which is to advance the University’s international standing. That means I can tell the people who are willing to help, we have these grand plans to move the University forward and as a result we can benefit Hong Kong itself and China.” Keeping a Traditional Art Form Alive Cantonese opera is a distinct par t of southern Chinese cultural heritage, but it faces the challenge of dwindling interest among young people. A new education programme hopes to reverse that trend and inspire new generations to appreciate this traditional art form. The Integrated Cantonese Opera in Education programme exposes young people to the ancient scripts, music, singing, costumes,make-up and movement involved in the opera, which also incorporates dance, mar tial ar ts and acrobatics.The students also attend performances. “The feedback has been beyond our expectations. Students at some schools have even been composing their own poetry, inspired by the ancient scripts. They have also been learning how to perform, master the movements, the formulae for expressing themselves and how to sing and apply the make-up,” said Dr Ng Fung Ping, who is leading the project for the Centre for the Advancement of Chinese Language Education and Research. “They have also learned how to move while wearing the costumes. This is very impor tant as these costumes are very, very heavy. The students have now come to appreciate the skills and strength required for acting and conducting mar tial ar ts while weighed down by such heavy costumes.” Dr Ng and her team have developed curriculum materials, such as a school-based evaluation system and teaching reference book, The Princess Changping, so students can study Cantonese opera as par t of a formal syllabus, rather than an extra-curricular activity. The initiative was inspired by opera performers, who worried that few new singers were coming through, and initiated by the Cantonese Opera Development Advisory Committee. They asked Dr Ng and her team to reach out to schools to keep alive an ar t form that dates to the 12th century Song Dynasty.The project has received funding suppor t from the Yam Pak Charitable Foundation and the Cantonese Opera Development Fund. “There is more to Cantonese opera than just the music, it has a strong basis in traditional Chinese literature, the Cantonese dialect and dance,” added Dr Ng. The Review 2008 • Community 38 39