歷史
History

香港芭蕾舞學會(芭蕾舞學會)為非牟利團體,成立於1964年7月,是本港歷史最悠久的芭蕾舞組織。成立本會的一羣本地芭蕾舞導師,希望集結資源,讓當時鮮有表演機會的芭蕾舞學生參與正式舞台演出,豐富其表演藝術經驗。在當時音統處的支持下,芭蕾舞學會得以於1966及1969年舉辦首兩次演出。

1973年,芭蕾舞學會邀請到世界知名的芭蕾伶娜瑪歌芳婷成為贊助人,同年,Lady Maclehose應邀為名譽贊助人,自此起歷屆港督(現為特區行政首長)夫人均為本會擔任名譽贊助人。

1974年,瑪歌芳婷應邀來港為芭蕾舞學會作籌款演出,並帶同其舞蹈夥伴保爾(Heinz Bosl)來港。惜保爾於該次演出後不久辭世,芭蕾舞學會遂成立「Heinz Bosl獎學金」,支持本地有潛質的芭蕾舞新秀到海外芭蕾舞學校接受專業訓練。1976年,呂紹梅成為首位獎學金得主,赴笈英國皇家芭蕾舞學校。

1991年,芭蕾舞學會設立瑪歌芳婷獎學金,紀念瑪歌芳婷爵士自1973年成為贊助人至其逝世18年間予本會珍貴的意見和指導。

芭蕾舞學會一直定期舉辦演出,為香港芭蕾舞學生提供表演機會,劇目包括《吉賽爾》、《天鵝湖》、《仙凡之戀》、《睡美人》等。亦曾帶領學生前往澳門、新加坡、廣州及深圳巡演,當地觀眾反應熱烈。

2000年,芭蕾舞學會舉辦了全港首個公開芭蕾舞比賽「香港芭蕾舞學會超新星大賞」,旨在為本地芭蕾舞界發掘新秀,同時給予參賽者一個難得的經驗,讓他們面對專業評審團獨自於舞台上表演。表現出色的學生可獲頒暑期舞蹈進修之獎學金,前往外地深造。

時至今日,芭蕾舞學會已由當初的小型舞蹈組織,發展至具數百名會員的機構。本會在過去多年舉辦的「香港芭蕾舞超新星大賞」,已吸引了近7,000名參加者;不少參與本會活動的學生及獎學金得主亦繼而成功發展其舞蹈事業,成為世界各地著名芭蕾舞團的舞蹈員或編舞家。

The Hong Kong Ballet Group (the Ballet Group), the longest running ballet organization in Hong Kong, was formed as a non-profit organization in July 1964 by a group of local ballet teachers to pool resources so that their students could have the opportunity to perform on stage, as such experience being a vital part of this performing art form.

The first two performances were presented by the Hong Kong Music Department in 1966 and 1969. 1973 was a turning point in the history of the Ballet Group, when Dame Margot Fonteyn became our Patron, the Governor’s wife became the Honorary Patron and Mrs. Sally Leung became the President.

Mr. Heinz Bosl, a wonderful German artist, partnered Dame Margot Fonteyn in the fundraising performance for the Ballet Group at Lee Theatre in 1974. With the sudden death of Mr. Bosl shortly after the event, a Scholarship was launched in his memory. Mr. Cliff Lui was the first recipient of the Scholarship for studying at the Royal Ballet School for one year.

A second scholarship was launched in 1991, naming after Dame Margot Fonteyn who had inspired and supported the Ballet Group for 18 years.

Performances have been presented regularly and our repertoire included most favourite classical ballets such as Giselle, Swan Lake, La Sylphide, Sleeping Beauty etc. The Ballet Group had also toured to Macau, Singapore, Guangzhou and Shenzhen and the performances were all very enthusiastically received.

Since its inception in 2000, the Hong Kong Ballet Group Stars Award has come to be recognized as the one impartial ballet competition open to all ballet students of Hong Kong. Entrants, in levels according to age and gender, compete in front of a panel of adjudicators of international professional caliber. Talents were identified and encouraged by awards and scholarships to study at overseas summer programmes.

Over the years, the membership of the Ballet Group has grown from a small group of supporters to hundreds of members. The Hong Kong Ballet Group Stars Award has drawn almost 7,000 participants. Many of the Ballet Group’s participants and scholarship recipients have subsequently developed successful dance careers, becoming professional dancers and choreographers at world renowned ballet companies.