Ocean Park Launches “Penguin Movers Dance Challenge” Tux, Polar Adventure’s mascot, to go on stage for the first time to promote conservation of polar regions and animals

(2 May 2012, Hong Kong) To tie in with the opening of Polar Adventure, Ocean Park now calls for all students in Hong Kong to take part in the exciting Penguin Movers Dance Challenge. Upon forming teams, participants will choreograph and record on video 1-minute dance routines, featuring moves that imitate the natural behaviors of penguins, and upload them to YouTube. Show us your moves and join forces to protect the polar regions! Meanwhile, Tux, Polar Adventure’s mascot, will also take this chance to meet everybody for the first time.

Tux, an outgoing and playful Rockhopper penguin, loves to challenge his friends to a game of skiing, swimming or long-jump. He was recently invited by Ocean Park’s Whiskers to join the animal ambassadors at Polar Adventure – the King penguins, Rockhopper penguins and Gentoo penguins, to advocate for the conservation of the natural environments in the polar regions.

Dr. Allan Zeman, Chairman of Ocean Park, Dr. Rebecca Lee, Founder and Director, China Polar Museum Foundation, and Mr. Gerald Wong Cho-yiu, prominent local choreographer and founder of Infinity Dance Studio, will form the judging panel in choosing the winners of the dance competition. Judging criteria will include dance aesthetics, costume designs and conservation messages. To inspire your creativity, a demonstration video has been produced by Ocean Park and can be viewed athttp://www.oceanpark.com.hk/dance2012.

Details of the Penguin Movers Dance Challenge
Format
Local students from kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions may form teams of 4-30 dancers, with each team submitting a video clip of their dance routine mimicking the penguins' natural behaviors. Each video must be within 1 minute in length and be uploaded to YouTube.com. An online application must be submitted at http://www.oceanpark.com.hk/dance2012. Recruitment will start on 2nd May and conclude on 25th June. Winners will be informed by July 2012.

Prizes
Aspiring penguin dancers will be in for a chance to win these attractive prizes:

Champion:      Cash prize of HK$3,000
                           Penguin Movers Dance Challenge trophy
                           1 SmartFun Annual Pass for each team member

First runner-up:    Cash prize of HK$2,000
                                2 Ocean Park admission tickets for each team member

Second runner-up:    Cash prize of HK$1,000
                                      2 Ocean Park admission tickets for each team member

Award of merit (10 teams):   1 Ocean Park admission ticket for each team member

Best costume award (1 team):  1 Ocean Park admission ticket for each team member

Best creativity award (1 team):  1 Ocean Park admission ticket for each team member

Best dance moves award (1 team): 1 Ocean Park admission ticket for each team member