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The 12th edition of the Ibero-American Theater Festival, one of the largest theater festivals in South America, was launched in Bogota, Colombia, recently. Spread over 17 days, the festival features a selection of the best of performing arts worldwide, drawn from different genres and disciplines.

It also includes lectures, seminars, master classes and workshops, aimed at promoting exchanges between visiting artists and their Colombian counterparts.

Chinese director Bian Wentong, from the China Academy of Drama, was invited to hold the workshop "The fusion and expression of modern elements in Chinese scenographic creation".

Her presentation was warmly received by Colombian students and artists who have few opportunities to learn of Chinese contemporary theater arts.

Historic baton for museum

Chinese conductor Yu Long, artistic director of China Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO), has donated his baton to the National Museum of China. It was with this baton that he conducted CPO and Shanghai Opera House to perform for the Pope at the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican on May 7, 2008.

The concert marked the first time a Chinese orchestra had performed for the Pope in the Vatican. As China does not have a formal diplomatic relationship with the Vatican, the concert was widely compared to the ping-pong diplomacy between the United States and China in the 1970s.

Besides the baton, Yu has also donated the badge of the Order of Arts and Letters, which the French Ministry of Culture awarded him in 2003 in recognition of his contributions to culture exchanges between China and France.

Stellar scores a century

Becky Skillman, Lieutenant-Governor of Indiana state in the United States, led a 26-person delegation to celebrate the opening of the 100th movie screen of Stellar International Cineplex, a Chinese cinema chain on June 8 in Beijing.

Weaver Popcorn Chief Operating Officer Will Weaver, member of the delegation, signed a "strategic partnership" with Stellar.

"Our hosts in China have been wonderful, and we couldn't be more excited about providing Weaver popcorn to movie-goers around the globe," he said.

In a ceremony attended by Chinese movie stars and directors, members of the Indiana trade delegation were treated as guests of honor.

Stellar also gave Skillman a VIP ticket that entitles her to watch films at any time in any of its theaters.

Founded by media mogul brothers Qin Hui and Qin Hong, Stellar is now one of the nation's most popular theater chains.

China Daily

(China Daily 06/12/2010 page11)