Every year, the Macanese locals and international visitors alike come together to celebrate the many forms of art at the Macao Art Festival. This year, in its 26th edition, the festival runs with the theme “Encounter”, which represents an attempt to explore the linguistic diversity of the performing arts and to break through various language restrictions.
All month long, 30 acts and visual exhibitions have been prepared, adding up to over 100 ongoing activities held at various locations around Macao. Aside from being nurtured in culture and arts, the outreach programmes hosted offer the audience an opportunity to interact directly with the performing groups to understand the concepts behind their ideas and creations.
Besides showcasing local talent, the Macao Arts Festival also presents a platform for international artists to demonstrate world-class innovative works to learn and grow, while perceiving the various cultures’ features and nuances. This year, the international artists taking part in the festival hail from countries like France, Switzerland, Taiwan, Mainland China, Portugal, Belgium, Spain and Germany.
Some of the international highlights include the Asian première of Thomas Lebrun’s Lied Ballet, from France, a show that offers a multi-layered experience through graceful movements that jump into the vast ocean of music. Trust, by Schaubuhne am Lehniner Platz, from Germany, translates the dual connection between text and body onto the stage.
Aside from that, the lineup include the commissioned work Aerodynamics by WCdance, featuring local dancers, contemporary international theatre guru Peter Brook’s work The Suit, by Theatre des Bouffes du Nord, physical theatre joint production Phaedra 2.0-Desires and Lies by Hong Kong director Tang Shu-wing and the Macao Youth Repertory Theatre, amongst others.
Thanks to the Macau Government Tourist Office, I got a taste of the 26th Macao Arts Festival right in the heart of the beautiful city. On the 8th and 9th of May, I watched Can Themba’s simple and perfectly executed contemporary drama The Suit, and Aerodynamics, a unique dance choreography by international dancer Wen-Chung Lin, demonstrating the motion of the body through air. Stay tuned to find out more about my experience!
Visit the official website for the Macao Arts Festival to find out more about upcoming activities. Don’t forget to access the Macau Government Tourist Office website before you plan your travel itinerary to explore the exciting city!
