The University of Macau (UM) Dance Troupe recently represented Macao at a national inter-varsity art show. The team was selected by the Department of Physical, Health and Arts Education of the Ministry of Education of China. This is the first time that a university in Macao has been selected to participate in this national event.

Held from 16 April to 18 April in Shanghai, with the theme being ‘Vision and Faith’, this year’s event presented various art performances and art experiential activities. It attracted nearly 10,000 teachers and students of more than 400 universities from 31 provinces in mainland China, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Hong Kong, and Macao.

In addition to the opening ceremony and art performance, the ten team members and their coach also watched performances by a special education school and attended an art workshop organised by the school. Through the event, UM students played the role of both participants and ambassadors for art education.

As a native of Macao, Ho Pui Ieng, captain of the UM Dance Troupe, who is also a third-year student from the Faculty of Social Sciences and a member of Chao Kuang Piu College, says that she never thought she would have the chance to take part in this kind of national event. ‘This is the first time the UM Dance Troupe has represented Macao in a national event and performed in front of people from all over China,’ says Ho. ‘The experience was unforgettable and very precious to me. I hope the UM Dance Troupe will have more opportunities to perform at national events in the future.’