LIVE! Singapore concludes second act with resounding success

Proving its mettle as the premier performing arts platform, the LIVE! Singapore annual global performing Arts Conference and Trade Fair has recorded 13% growth in participants in its second year.

The three-day event, which came to a close on 3rd June, was held at two premier arts venues, The Arts House and Marina Bay Sands. It welcomed close to 1,300 participants from 53 countries including over 50 leading performing arts organisations and government agencies, attesting to LIVE!

Singapore's unique position as the ideal platform for performing arts professionals to exchange ideas, promote business and build networks.

Michael Dreyer, Vice President Asia Pacific, Koelnmesse, organiser of LIVE! Singapore explains "this year's LIVE! Singapore has seen greater participation from experts, exhibitors and visitors from Asia ï¾ a key indicator of the region's rise in the global performing arts market. LIVE! Singapore 2011 has provided international performing arts practitioners with a one-stop access to the blossoming Asian market and proven itself as an effective venue for emerging Asian companies to reach out to the global industry."

The strong international presence at LIVE! Singapore provided an excellent backdrop for emerging talents, established artists and performing arts companies to showcase their works and explore opportunities in the region and beyond.

In a first for the event, Shanghai's W Squared Entertainment Ltd revealed that the martial arts mega musical, previously code named ' Project IX', will officially premiere in 2013 as Ip Man ï¾ the Musical. Producers, Robert Vicencio and Hongming Wang, also shed some light on the making of the unique
musical, which will be staged in both English and Chinese.

Vicencio explained "I was present at last year's LIVE! Singapore, sitting among the audience and listening to the keynote speeches. One of the keynote speakers said something which instantly struck a chord with me. In essence, he said that we are waiting for the next greatest thing to come out of the

Musical world, and that it will probably come out of China. Ip Man ï¾ the Musical is our response to that beckoning call."

Other well-received performances included Isma�l Mouarakai from Canadian dance company, Destins Crois�s, who staged an impressive solo contemporary-urban dance performance entitled "Reflections', and Singaporean story-teller, Roger Jenkins, who captivated the audience with his thought-provoking tales about friendship and building bridges between cultures.

Korean vocalist, Sojung Lee, who was among the guest performers at the LIVE! Conference, commented on the relevance of LIVE! Singapore to artists, adding "I believe that events, such as LIVE! Singapore, are very important. They promote an exchange of ideas, bringing together different people with various talents and resources to collaborate and give birth to new ideas and opportunities. As artists, we are always on the lookout for new stages and venues, and I think

LIVE! Singapore has been a great platform to spark many future collaborations."

Industry leaders, representing prominent performing arts organizations, venues and festivals from all corners of the world shared their insights and expertise at the LIVE! Conference.

Among the speakers were industry stalwarts from the Asian performing arts scene, such as Ho-Sang Ahn, Chief Executive of the Seoul Foundation for Art & Culture, Korea; Lee Jong-Ho, Founding Artistic Director of the Seoul International Dance Festival (SIDance), Korea; Qian Shijin, Artistic Director of the Shanghai Grand Theatre, China; Francis Wacziarg, Founder of the Neemrana Music Foundation, India; Margaret Yang, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Hong Kong; and Wei Zhi, Vice President of the Shanghai International Arts Festival, China.

For more information go to www.live-singapore.com.sg

7th April 2011 - LIVE! SINGAPORE 2011 TO CONNECT ASIAN PERFORMING ARTS MARKET WITH THE WORLD

11th November 2009 - HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE BATTLE TO BECOME ASIA’S REGIONAL ARTS HUB