Performing arts groups from around the world have descended on the city spreading joy to the public in the run-up to the main event taking place on Sunday.
It is the 9th year the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) is organising a parade as part of its activities marking Macau’s return to the motherland. Initially held as “Parade through Macau, Latin City”, the event was restyled in 2017 and has since been presented as “Macau International Parade”, while continuing to use the word “Viva”, which used to represent an animated character central to the parade.
This year, the parade aims to highlight the cultural and artistic characteristics of countries and regions along the Belt and Road (B&R), a global infrastructure development initiative by the central government.
With about 1,800 artists from 61 local groups and 19 groups from place across five continents, including Angola, Belarus, Chile, Cyprus, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Myanmar, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Thailand and Ukraine, as well as from Hong Kong and Zhanjiang city in Guangdong province., performers will put their artistic talent into full play at the parade on Sunday as they navigate through the cobbled-streets at the Ruins of St Paul’s, the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Largo do Senado, and the waterfront at Praia Grande, before arriving at the open-space at Sai Van Lake Square for a big bash with fireworks to celebrate “Love, Peace and Cultural Integration” as Macau marks the 20th anniversary of its return to the motherland.Surprise!
Prior to the parade, some of the groups have been popping up around town in full costume, surprising the public and interacting with people as a tease to their show on Sunday, while some performers have been attending workshops to show and teach participants the skills behind their moves, such as acrobatics, breakdancing, trampoline, parkour, contortion and flexibility, as well as puppet-making where people learn how to carve, mount and perform with puppets.
Yesterday, several groups did a flash mob in Largo do Senado, with performances that have themes ranging from folk and traditions to cyber space and flowing movements to energetic dance, attracting scores of passers-by snapping away on their smartphones.
Agis Toursidis from the National Dance Ensemble Romiosini from Cyprus told MDP Weekender yesterday that it is the first time that he is bringing the island nation’s traditional dance and music to Asia.
According to Toursidis, Riomiosini describes Greek culture from the Byzantine idea that the Greeks are the true Romioi, the heirs of the Roman Empire.
The ensemble will present its award-winning “300 Spartans” performance and a thrilling performance of a Georgian folk dance of fight scenes between two men over a woman with swords and shields.
“They fight but it’s not a real fight, it’s a sword dance where you can’t injure anyone, if you injure somebody, there would be a fine,” Toursidis said, who pointed out that people, however, like to win, even in a sword dance.
“They compete for spectators,” Toursidis said, adding that sometimes there are injuries as they perform with real swords, so a lot of practice goes into the performance.
“The reason why we are doing the Georgian dance is because we are from southern Cyprus, we are Greeks, because originally we lived in Georgia for around 200 years, and afterwards we moved back to Greece and Cyprus, so we have accumulated the culture of Georgia,” Toursidis said.
Toursidis, who is a surgeon by profession, has been with the ensemble since he was a kid as his parents were choreographers.
“This is my second job, I guess,” Toursidis smiled.
Acrobatic Kenya’s representative Aeneah Ochaka said that they were excited to greet the Chinese public with Kenyan acrobats.
“It’s very different from the Chinese style, it’s very energetic and fast-paced,” Ochaka said, pointing out while their original performance is one hour long, they have picked the best part for the eight-minute show in Macau.
Having done the original show for over 15 years now, Ochaka said that acrobatic moves require a lot of training and stamina, and the hardest part of the performance is the human pyramid.
“It’s done at a high speed, quickly forming a pyramid to another,” Ochaka said.
While performers from Russia’s Jumping Robots seemed they have descended from outer space with their silver suits and light beams, artists from Italy’s Ladies’ Moon appeared as angels in white each carrying a balloon moon as they floated around the square on stilts.
In their colourful ethnic costumes, members of the Jovens do Hungo Angolan Traditional Dance, Music and Ballet from Angola brought some upbeat African tempo to the city combining traditional instruments like goatskin-covered drums, hungo (a single-stringed instrument in arrow shape) and dikanza (scraping stick) with dance.
Agis Toursidis from the National Dance Ensemble Romiosini from Cyprus poses at Largo do Senado prior to his performance there yesterday. Photo: Monica Leong
Performing arts groups from the Macau International Parade make a surprise show in Largo do Senado yesterday. Photos: Iong Tat Choi
