Celebrations Shanghai China

When it comes to performance art in Shanghai, size is everything. Consider the raw numbers at the second annual International Arts Festival going on throughout this month: more than 5,000 performers from 19 countries running 54 programs at 17 venues. The extravaganza of Italian opera, Israeli modern dance, Spanish flamenco, Australian theater, Russian circus and Vietnam water puppetry is meant to showcase the port city as more than China's commercial nerve center.

When it comes to performance art in Shanghai, size is everything. Consider the raw numbers at the second annual International Arts Festival going on throughout this month: more than 5,000 performers from 19 countries running 54 programs at 17 venues. The extravaganza of Italian opera, Israeli modern dance, Spanish flamenco, Australian theater, Russian circus and Vietnam water puppetry is meant to showcase the port city as more than China's commercial nerve center.