Best bets

Dua Lipa 2018 Live in Shanghai

Date: Sept 12 - 8 pm

Venue: Shanghai National Exhibition & Convention Center

UK Superstar singer-songwriter Dua Lipa is bringing her much-anticipated debut tour to Guangzhou and Shanghai in September 2018. Dua is the No 1 most streamed female artist on Spotify and has just spent 8 weeks at No 1 in the UK this summer with her hit "One Kiss" - the most weeks at number one for a female artist this century. Born in London to Albanian parents from Kosovo, Dua Lipa attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School until she was 11, when she and her family moved back to Kosovo. Encouraged by her teacher, Lipa convinced her parents to let her move back to London when she was 15 to follow her aspirations to become a singer and songwriter. She recorded songs and covers, posted them on social media and was discovered by Lana Del Rey's management team, who recognized her incredible talent and signed her.

Escaping From the Temple

Date: Aug 18-19 - 7:30 pm

Venue: 1862 Theater, Shanghai

Escaping From the Temple was derived from two famous plays from Chinese Kunqu Operas: Longing For the Mundane and Going Down the Mountain. Zhao Liang presents the Kunqu Opera singing and dance performances simultaneously on the stage, featuring both the natural beauty of the former and the avant-garde dynamics of the latter. Such approach to incorporate "drama within drama" is very challenging. The role of the young nun is played by two people, among whom Dong Fei has been trained under the lineage of the great Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang. She will play the role of Empty and sing Kunqu alive on the stage. On a beautiful spring day, a young nun met a young monk and they fell in love with each other. Eventually, both of them left their temples and went down the mountain together. The ending is the climax of the story. However, is it an illusion of the young nun or a projection of the audiences for a "happy ending"?

The Night of Flamenco - Suite Sevilla by Ballet Nacional de Espana (Spanish National Ballet)

Date: Sept 27-29 - 7:30 pm

Venue: Shanghai International Dance Center

Ballet Nacional de Espana is one of the main cultural ambassadors of Spain to the world, with an understanding of how to preserve the interest for all the styles of Spanish dance throughout its history. The national ballet was founded by the Ministry of Culture in 1978, under the direction of Antonio Gades. Throughout the years, it has evolved to meet the times, interpreting highly diverse choreographies for flamenco, stylized Spanish dance or the Bolera School, among others. The institutions works excel in the coexistence of traditional and modern styles. The Spanish National Ballet also maintains an active commitment to education. The success of its performances has brought the ballet to interpret in the most prestigious theaters worldwide with emblematic works such as "Medea" by Jos?? Granero, "El Concierto de Aranjuez" by Pilar L??pez or "Fuenteovejuna" by Antonio Gades. Furthermore, the Spanish National Ballet is widely acclaimed by both critics and the public, obtaining numerous awards.