Fret not if you missed the first half because things are beginning to really heat up in the second with a long list of not-to-be-missed acts.

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The 7th annual George Town Festival is well underway now, dynamically and colourfully showcasing world-class performances, installations and collaborations with international and local artistes alike with the aim to showcase the city as a lively global stage of arts and culture. 

Fret not if you missed the first half because things are beginning to really heat up in the second with a long list of not-to-be-missed acts.

Yet to show are ‘Kaash’ (a dance number by world-renowned dancer and choreographer Akram Khan), 'Triptyque' (a three-part circus acrobatic meets contemporary dance extravaganza, 'Chekara' (a brilliant flamenco performance that is a rich portrayal of the Mediterranean spirit marked by a dialogue of cultures) and more. 


Kaash

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20 Aug 2016 – 21 Aug 2016; 8:30PM – 9:25PM; Dewan Sri Pinang; OriginUK

Named “Best Modern Choreography” by The Critics’ Circle National Dance Award in 2002, Kaash (Hindi word for ‘if only’) is revived in this 2014 production by world-renowned dancer and choreographer, Akram Khan. Together with internationallycelebrated sculptor Anish Kapoor and composer Nitin Sawhney, Khan continues his quest to build bridges between the world of contemporary dance and the Indian classical dance form Kathak.


 Triptyque

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26 Aug 2016 – 27 Aug 2016;  8:30PM – 10:30PM; Dewan Sri Pinang; OriginCanada

“A perfect marriage of circus art and contemporary dance.” – Le Journal de Montreal. Having staged a performance at the 2012 Academy Awards Ceremony and directed the first segment of the Opening Ceremony at the Sochi Olympic games, Canadian-based Les 7 doigts de la main brings the Asian premiere of Triptyque to George Town Festival. A mesmerising three-part show from the beginning to the end, it is an ingenious spectacle where circus acrobatics meet contemporary dance.


 Chekara

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19 Aug 2016 – 20 Aug 2016; 8:30PM – 10:10PM; MBPP Town Hall; OriginSpain

Chekara brilliantly combines flamenco and the Andalusian music of Morocco known as al-ala, which originated in the courts of Seville, Granada and Córdoba during the Golden Age of Al-Andalus – a time when Muslims, Christians and Jews coexisted in southern Spain. Offering a natural synthesis of various musical forms, Chekara preserves the rich musical heritage of Christians, Moriscos and Gypsies. The result is a rich portrayal of the Mediterranean spirit marked by that dialogue of cultures.


 Smashed

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27 Aug 2016 – 28 Aug 2016 ; 8:30PM – 10:00PM; Majestic Theatre; OriginUK

Having performed over 5000 shows in 50 countries, the world-renowned jugglers of Gandini Juggling present Smashed, a sensational mix of circus and theatre. This hour-long spectacle explores the dark art of juggling in a series of nostalgic filmic scenes that traverse tense relationships, lost love and afternoon tea in a way that is funny and inventive.


 Moved by Padi

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27 Aug 2016 – 28 Aug 2016;  Time TBC; Lebuh Macallum; OriginMalaysia

Moved by Padi is a multi-arts collaborative project led by Malaysia’s leading choreographer and dancer Aida Redza. With rice being a staple in Asia, Moved by Padi (Malay for ‘paddy’) is fundamentally rooted in the belief that the things in which one cultivate becomes the things that one consumes. Together with her artistic collaborators, Ombak-Ombak ArtStudio, Ng Chor Guan (composer), Okui Lala (visual artist), Lisa Foo (installation artist) and Mao Arata (Japanese choreographer and performer), they will present a contemporary reinvention of rituals and communal celebrations honouring the semangat (spirit) of paddy and rice as a source of existence and self.


 

Drawing thousands of visitors to Penang every year, George Town Festival is quickly becoming one of Asia’s must-see events and we can see why. There’s still time to be part of this vibrant meet of the traditional and contemporary, the past and future.

Click here to check for show times and purchase your tickets. All the fun, art and culture is ongoing until August 26, 2016.

Looking for something sportier? Run to the beat of The Music Run this October.