Showcasing more than 800 works created by 350 artists over the span of a century, Reform Mission: Guangdong Art Centennial Exhibition, taking place from Oct 18 to Jan 18, systematically presents a journey of continuous innovation, highlighting the exchanges between Guangdong and Shanghai.

The event also features 14 performances by seven theater productions, including dance, folk opera, ballet, and acrobatic shows, most of which are new original creations.

An integral part of the arts festival, the 23rd CSIAF Performing Arts Fair, was held from Oct 18 to Monday at the Bocom New Bund 31 Performing Arts Center, which saw more than 2,000 representatives from nearly 500 international institutions.

Francesca Magnini, artistic director of Balletto di Roma, a ballet-based contemporary dance company from Italy, tells China Daily that this was the second time the company participated in the fair.

The company had a successful tour with its production of Juliet and Romeo in September and is at the fair to promote its new production, Last Dance, which has already received invitations to perform in China next year.

Magnini was happy to find at the fair that "we are being seen more and more, and I think Chinese audiences are ready for some contemporary and avant-garde dance productions".