"I think art festivals all over the world should do this," he says. "For me this online signing has symbolic importance. To sign this contract means there is hope and that everything will go on."

Maillot also shared his thoughts about the pandemic and how dancers are in a particularly difficult spot because of the various measures taken to curb the spread of the virus.

"For dancers staying home and not being able to move their bodies, it is like death," he says, before expressing belief that rehearsals for the Shanghai festival can resume when the pandemic is contained by the end of April as predicted.

Maillot created The Taming of the Shrew for the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia in 2014. He was the first foreign choreographer to be invited by the prestigious Bolshoi to create a largescale narrative ballet. According to Monaco Reporter, Maillot's creation is "thrilling and intoxicating, a sensual dance that goes from whimsical to violent, with that touch of eccentricity that characterizes him".

Another one of the six performance shows slated to be shown during the CSIAF is Staatskapelle Dresden's concert series. According to Adrian Jones, director of the renowned German orchestra, the orchestra will present two concerts of Beethoven's composition, playing his violin concertos and Symphony No 5, No 6 and No 7, to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of the legendary composer.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo Costa Felix, a Fado singer and music producer from Portugal, will bring the Portuguese Fado Festival to Shanghai for the first time during the CSIAF where it would participate in the Art Space, a regular part of the festival, which consists of free performances in public spaces. During its time in Shanghai, the Fado Festival will present Amolia-Independent Heart, which tells of the life story of a legendary Fado diva. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Fado Festival's founding.

In addition, Yen Han Ballet Productions from Switzerland will present a new production named Creation/Orphee et Eurydiceat Art Space. According to Yen Han, founder of the company, this will be the second time the company is participating in the CSIAF. The company made its debut in Shanghai last year in a joint production with Shanghai Ballet.