THE CHRISTINE LIAO SCHOOL OF BALLET
The Christine Liao School of Ballet was founded by Mrs. Christine Liao, JP in 1964 and has since developed into one of the largest ballet schools in the world with thousand of students in 43 dance studios in Hong Kong. Over the past 50 years, the School has achieved brilliant results in the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Examinations, The Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (CSTD) Examinations and The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet (ACB).
The School has trained world-class ballerinas. Students from Christine Liao School of Ballet have won:
The Adeline Genee International Gold Medal in London;
Silver Medal of the China National Ballet Competition;
Gold Medals of Theatrical Festival in Perth Australia;
Gold Medals of Asia Pacific Dance Competition in Thailand;
Gold Medals of Kangaroo Cup Competition;
Champion Awarded of HK Youth Arts Festival Competition;
Gold Medals of Open Dance Contest;
CSTD Championship Cup of 14th Asia Pacific Dance Competition in Hong Kong;
Top of 15 in Ballet Division & ADC Medallion of American Dance Competition in USA.
Principal : Mrs. Christine Liao, JP
With a view to encouraging of students’cultural development understanding and to help build up self-confidence and positive character, the school annually organizes numerous cross-disciplinary activities, namely, scholarship competitions, summer courses, jazz classes, Christmas Carnival and stage performances. Yearly, in Hong Kong, students also participate in “Lunar New Year Parade” and “Celebrations for anniversary of the HKSAR”, and other.
Seeing the need to educate and nurture young audience in Hong Kong. Mrs. Christine Liao has staged grand scale performances of 1,000 dancers over the past years. And over the years’ introduced classical ballet, young audience. The Christine Liao School of Ballet repertoire includes “Swan Lake”, “Coppelia”, “Snow White”, “Cinderella”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Sleeping Beauty” ,"La Fille Mal Gardee”and " Giselle"
Hong Kong Dance Foundation Limited
The Hong Kong Dance Foundation (HKDF) is a non-profit organization (NPO), set up in 1999 which aims at promoting dance education and culture.
HKDF offers scholarships to outstanding young dancers. It also organizes performances, competitions events and auditions, public performances, and open classes by world famous dancers.
HKDF aims at providing advance education and cultural exchange program to talented young dancers. HKDF encourages participation in overseas dance competition, and pursuit of further dances studies.
Auditions for scholarship are held each year in November in public venue by an independent international judging panel. Over past years, hundreds of talented students have benefitted from sponsorships and scholarships offered by the HKDF in the field of Dance.
Message from Director-Principal
Thinking back......
How quickly fifty years pass when one's work is combined with love and enthusiasm!
After graduating from the University of Hong Kong where I majored in English and French Literature, and having spent one year teaching English at the Diocesan Girls School, and having stepped out of movies, I discovered that I love communicating with children as well as I love dancing ballet, so inspite of having already carved out a promising career in the movies, or having been offered scholarship and graduate jobs, I started to try to introduce the beauty of ballet to young children.
In the first months of starting school, there was only ONE student. But that gave me as much joy and satisfaction as a hundred. When I see a young person make an effort to improve, when I see a spark, when I am able to inspire beauty of mind and body to a child I teach, I go home fulfilled.
The school grew.. and grew.. and grew..
Fifty years cannot be without its hitches and difficulties. In 1967, just as the Christine Liao School of Ballet stood on its feet. There was a riot in Hong Kong which depleted the school of all pupils for a few months. Then in 2003, the SARS epidemic again saw us without students for many months. All staff and myself sat in empty studios. But each time, students and life bounced back, and before long the school was in full swing again.
The secret of success of this school, which now registers thousands of pupils, is in its very dedicated teachers all of whom are part of an extended big family, very closely knit, helping each other to advance, and growing from strength to strength. I thank them most sincerely for all their contribution over the past years: for bringing the school to international standards, competing and winning in many competitions, for excellent examination results from different countries, and most of all for instilling the joy of dancing into the young ones they teach.
The Christine Liao School of Ballet has promoted classical ballets such as “Swan Lake”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Coppelia”, “Cinderella” to young audience to nurture their interests and spark enthusiasm in cultural support for Hong Kong Government. The story is simplified and explained; and in the past 10 years we have built up a great audience, who will in future enrich and support cultural activities of Hong Kong.
The spirit of “GIVING” is an important aspect of my school’s teaching. For those less fortunate, we contribute our time, thoughts and effort, and try to make this a better world for all.
Still looking forward…………
Christine Liao, JP, FHKAPA
Director - Principal
