Fewer participants taking part in upcoming Latin Parade

The “Parade Through Macau, Latin City” will be held on December 4, in celebration of the 17th anniversary of the territory’s handover to China; this year with fewer participants.
The upcoming parade, organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) takes the classic Chinese text “Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing)” as its background.
“VIVA’s Adventures through Shan Hai” comprises of 40 local and around 10 foreign participating groups. Participants will total nearly 1,200, which is 300 fewer compared to last year.
However, director of IC, Ung Vai Meng said in a press conference yesterday that streamlining the number of performances was to enhance the quality of the Parade and also to allow for more convenient control of the flow of people. According to him, the decrease in the number of artists performing will not have much impact on the quality of the parade.
Local groups responded to the call for participation in the parade, with performances featuring Cantonese opera, theatre, music, martial arts, folk and traditional and oriental dance.
The Parade will also feature a number of participating foreign groups, from Latin-speaking countries and other foreign regions, including French group Plasticiens Volants that again will bring huge balloons to strengthen the event’s visual impact.
Rome Majorettes from Italy, specialized in the classic discipline of majorettes and cheerleading and Ballet Afro Tuga from Portugal, which will present a show based on African traditional percussion and rhythms, will also be performing at the Latin parade.
On the day of the Parade, VIVA will cross the time gate at 4 p.m. at Largo da Companhia de Jesus, taking off from the Ruins of St. Paul’s, together with performing groups.
The parade will travel via streets such as Rua de S. Paulo, St. Anthony’s Square, Rua de D. Belchior Carneiro, Rua dos Artilheiros, and Rua de Sanches de Miranda. The participants will then arrive at their final destination at Tap Seac Square.
In a press conference yesterday, it was announced that this year’s parade offers an alternative route as well.
Some performing groups will depart from Senado Square and march through Largo de S. Domingos, Rua de S. Domingos, Rua da Palha and Rua de S. Paulo, joining the remainder of the parade at the Ruins of St. Paul’s.
This year, the route of the parade includes installations based on the mythological characters of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, enhancing the festive atmosphere.
Meanwhile the Cultural Affairs Bureau announced that the Parade has a MOP15 million budget, a decrease of MOP1 million compared to last year’s show.
The parade is one of the major events in celebration of the region’s handover to China and has already become one of the city’s most festive events since its first edition in 2011.
When the festivities kick off on December 4, crowd control measures will be implemented and some streets will be temporarily closed to traffic.