The 26th Macao Arts Festival (MAF), organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, presents in Macao several world-level ballets, from the Asian premieres of Lied Ballet and Trust to the commissioned performance Aerodynamics and the award winning Out of Context – for Pina, uniting masterpieces and top dancers and allowing the audience to enjoy the charms of dance from different epochs and styles.

Lied Ballet, a premiere in Asia, is a work by world renowned and contemporary choreographer Thomas Lebrun, bringing together classical and modern ballet elements, taking the audience on a journey through different eras, raising the MAF’s curtain in the best way possible. The Festival comes to a close with another Asian premiere – Trust, a production interpreted by the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz’s talented dancers, is inspired by the financial crisis of 2008, criticising the modern world through body language. The commissioned performance Aerodynamics is the result of cooperation between Taiwan and Macau dancers, led by prominent theatre director Wen-Chung Lin, that explores the relationship between human body and aeronautics. Contemporary Belgian company les ballets C de la B presents the award winning Out of Context – for Pina, reflecting the luxury and wildness of modern civilization through unadorned movements and postures that represent the essence of human feelings.

This edition on the Festival also organizes a series of outreach activities, such as the Contemporary Theatre Criticism Workshop, led by Shih Ming-Huei and Wu Shi-Fong, from Taiwan, Lo Ching-man and Chan Kwok Wai, from Hong Kong, and Mok Sio Chong, from Macao, hoping to lead its students to write their own performance critiques; the Theatrical Interpretation Workshop offers a sign language experience, taking it to an artistic level. Available places for both workshops are now limited and interested members of the public should apply as soon as possible.

For more information on the performances, please refer to the Macao Arts Festival booklet at www.icm.gov.mo/fam. Ticketing hotline 2855 5555; online reservations at www.macauticket.com. Information on the Outreach Programme activities and respective applications are available at www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event, and can also be done through the number 8399 6699, during office hours.