On October 7 (Wednesday, 8pm), the first professional dance company in Macao presents Ying Eding and Yang Minjian’s newest choreographic work “Flying to the Moon” at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. In a production by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the SAR Government, the Macao Youth Dance Troupe joins distinguished dancers from Mainland China to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and the 10th Anniversary of Macao’s Handover.
“Flying to the Moon” evokes the classical legend of Chang’e, the goddess who, once separated from her husband due to her dream to recover immortality, found herself exiled on the Moon, isolated and solitary for all eternity. Nonetheless, this is a ballet that breathes modernity, abandoning its mythological and traditional inspiration to give place to a contemporary reflection about the human fascination with the Great Unknown.
In “Flying to the Moon”, the Unknown takes the form of the heavenly body that illuminates the night, which has always exerted a great pull on us. On stage, the Moon is both scenographically and choreographically opposed to the Earth. At the same time, the impetuous movement of the bodies gives expression to the impulses of the human being, not only to the desire to become a pioneer, to explore new lands and propel the world, but also to the fear of the consequent ostracism by society. Accompanied by Ravel's “choreographic symphony” Daphnis et Chloé, this is a dance drama that appeals to the senses as well as to the most profound reflection.
A famous dancer, Ying Eding is now the artistic director of the Macao Youth Dance Troupe. As an artist with solid Chinese dance skills accumulated over the years as well as a broad perspective on international dance trends, he has created 15 full-length choreographic works throughout more than three decades, including Macao Bride, the first original dance drama of Macao, and Carmina Burana, commissioned by the Ludwigsburg Festival in Germany.
The Macao Youth Dance Troupe is one of the first professional dance groups established after Macao's Handover. Under the strict, scientific and systematical training by the Dance School of the Macao Conservatory, the students have developed a good command of various dancing skills and forms of artistic expression. The Troupe has been awarded and acclaimed by both critics and the public on several occasions, including in China’s National Dancing Competition, the Tao Li Cup Competition, the Manila International Dance Festival, among others.
“Flying to the Moon” premiers at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium on October 7. On October 23, the show is taken to Shenzhen’s Poly Theatre and on November 17 it will be presented at the National Theatre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.
Tickets for the performance are available through the Kong Seng Ticketing Network at MOP 150/120/80, with a variety of discount plans (50% for holders of Student or Senior Cards, or purchase of 10 or more tickets; 20% for holders of Youth Cards, Teacher Cards or BNU and Weng Hang Bank credit cards). For more information, please visit www.icm.gov.mo, or call (853) 8399 6699. For bookings, please call 2855 5555 or visit www.macauticket.net.