E-card, Vancouver, 2008, Chinese Spectacular

‘The visual effects were ingenious’, Czech Opera Singer Says of ‘Chinese Spectacular’

By Kamil Rakyta, Epoch Times Staff, Mar 11, 2008-

PRAGUE, Czech Republic— “Totally, completely divine,” said Alexandra Polarczyk describing the Chinese Spectacular after attending the matinee at the Prague Congress Centre on Tuesday.

Polarczyk was especially impressed by the dancers.

(photo: Opera singer Alexandra Polarczyk said that the Chinese Spectacular was “completely divine”. / Jan Jekielek/The Epoch Times)

“They are perfectly organized, very silent, they are floating — it seems that they weigh only a few grams. They are wonderful. I’ve got feeling that there are five hundred of them.”Although still studying opera singing, Polarczyk is already performing at the Antonin Dvorak Theater, a major Moravian theater.”I liked every performance. The visual effects were ingenious. That one with fabrics, for example the waterfall [Nymphs of the Sea], it takes your breath away.”

She was also impressed by the state of the art digital backdrops used in the Spectacular.

“The video projections were super, they were nicely blended into the story. Wonderful stories, wonderful expressions.”

As for the singing, one of her favourites was the contra-altist, Jiansheng Yang. However, she said the erhu performance made her feel like she was “in Heaven.”

“The most beautiful musical experience for me was the Erhu player, Xiaochun Qi. It was perfect, I wanted to listen it for a whole lifetime. Like magic, splendid.”

The erhu is a two-stringed Chinese instrument known for its wide range of notes and mellow, haunting sound. Polarczyk also commented on the professionalism of the show.

“It was like professional recording, like they polished faults in studio and then played the best version of recording. Perfect. From artistic viewpoint I’m very positively surprised.”

For our complete coverage please visit:
http://en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008/

Chinese Spectacular Show ‘Pure beauty is beyond words’ : Taiwan Art Director

By Lin Qiaorong, Epoch Times Staff, Mar 11, 2008-

TAIPEI— New York-based Divine Performing Arts is now following up in Taiwan, being well underway with its 22-show tour. The performance venues include the cities of Tainan, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Taipei and Chiayi.

After watching the Chinese Spectacular several times, art director in a dancing company, Yang Siya, stated that Divine Performing Arts is changing the world. Originally she bought 52 tickets. Ultimately she ended up buying 80.

With over 20 years experience in dance instruction, Yang went to Radio City Music Hall in New York City at the time of the Chinese New Year to watch Divine Performing Arts’ Splendor. She said, “Art needs to move the spirit. When people’s hearts are moved, they can understand a whole lot more. Divine Performing Arts has proved this by virtue of the fact that its worldwide tour has drawn in audiences from various nationalities, cultural backgrounds and professions.”

The large background scenery really inspired Yang. “The use of simple bright and dark lights combined with high-tech backdrops, not only let people see clearly what was happening on the stage, but also changed the scenes so rapidly that they appeared so vivid and lifelike, thereby drawing in the audience’s attention and making them feel part of the show. For example, as “Lady of the Moon” was presented, suddenly the performer was shown to be flying into the heavens, the perfect harmony of this scene shocked the audiences.”

Someone asked what it takes to understand Divine Performing Arts’ performances,  Yang replied with a smile, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand Chinese or have an artistic background.” She said, “Whenever ‘Nymphs of the Sea’ was shown, I could hear a murmur of wonder and delight run through the audience, followed by continuous applause then. The fairies waved the fans so gracefully that you could feel as if the sea tides were coming towards you. The pure beauty of the artistry is beyond words. Anybody can understand it.”

Yang particularly mentioned how she noticed the clear presentation of the distinction between males and females which is part of the Chinese traditional culture. The dances clearly presented the sharp contrast between Yin and Yang.

“From the perspective of dance style, Chinese classical dance can be classified as civil or martial. Male dancers appear gentle, courteous and cultivated in civil dances, and virile and masculine in martial. A man should be like a man. Females are born to be elegant and pretty. Even though in martial dances they display animated courage, they should not lose the quality of feminine softness. These characteristics are neglected in modern popular performances. However, you can clearly distinguish these characteristics in the shows by Divine Performing Arts. They truly display authentic Chinese culture to the world.”

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese Spectacular. For our complete coverage please visit: http://en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008

‘It is an honor for me to be here,’ Says Fashion Designer at Vienna’s Chinese Spectacular Show

By Milene Wirth Fernandez and Joan Delaney, Epoch Times Staff, Mar 07, 2008-

“It’s a piece of home,” said La Hong in describing the Chinese Spectacular , currently playing at Vienna’s stately Stadtahalle, the oldest theatrical institution in the German-speaking world, dating back to the beginning of the 18th century.

An award-winning fashion designer, Hong is originally from Vietnam but has lived in Vienna for 27 years. He says the cultures of China and Vietnam are similar, and the Spectacular reminded him of the home he left many years ago.

“I have been away from home for so long that the show reminded me of home. It meant a lot to me. It is an honor for me to be here today, and I feel right at home. Putting it in general terms, the colors, the music and the dancers’ movements made me very happy. I experience the same colors and movements in my fashion creations.”

Hong commented on what the Spectacular meant for him.

“The show spoke to me about the inner senses that are inherent in all of us. Though we live in modern times, we must not forget that each of us has a depth, our origin. Everything these days, though, has strings attached to politics, all over the world — especially so in China.

“All of us on Earth would like to live in freedom, to move around where we wish, to achieve our best potential, to enrich everyone else’s lives. I think this is the actual meaning of this whole show, not merely the colors and music and movements, but the underlying message, as I said before — freedom.”

Hong said he primarily designs evening and bridal wear, and he commented on the colours and costumes in the show — which are all handmade — from the standpoint of a designer.

“My clothes collections are just as colorful as the show costumes we have seen today.

The colors serve a purpose and represent a playfulness; they express being part of our lives. Specially now, in the winter, the colors all around us are drab and there is a dampness. Seeing cheerful colors lifts our spirits.”

Hong worried that some in the audience may have not fully understood the more profound inner meaning of the acts.

“I am somewhat sad that most of the members in the audience have only a superficial grasp of the underlying message of these performances. Perhaps Westerners did understand what the dances try to convey, I am not sure, but I have understood their meaning! I wish more people would comprehend the meaning of these shows.

After another show in Vienna on Friday, the Spectacular will play in Bratislava on Sunday, carrying on to Prague for more shows next week. A total of 35 shows will be seen in 14 European countries.

For information about upcoming Divine Performing Arts shows, please visit: www.DivinePerformingArts.org/sy/.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese Spectacular. For our complete Spectacular coverage go to http://en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008/

e-card for Chinese Spectacular 2008 Vancouver Canada

Chinese New Year Spectacular Brings Back True Culture, Says Former Canadaian Diplomat

By Rahul Vaidyanath, Epoch Times Ottawa Staff, Jan 15, 2008-

Brian McAdam, a former diplomat who has much experience and insight on Asia, attended Sunday’s Chinese New Year Spectacular at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa with his wife, Marie.

They attended last year’s show as well, and were just as impressed this time around.

“I loved the beauty of all the dancers, and of course, the costumes are extraordinary. I really enjoyed the drums, they were so dramatic, synchronized beyond belief, incredible,” said McAdam.

Professor Paul J. Davidson’s comments echoed that of the McAdams as well as the many VIPs in attendance on Sunday night.

“It’s an excellent show; it has a lot of values to it. I found it very enjoyable. It shows a lot of positive things for people to think about,” said Davidson, professor in the Department of Law at Carleton University and the chair of the Committee on Asian Studies.

The Spectacular features a combination of Western and Chinese musical instruments in a live orchestra. A digital background screen displayed the lyrics in English and French.

Culture Cannot Be Suppressed

The  Chinese New Year Spectacular portrays traditional Chinese culture through song, dance, and storytelling.

McAdam is well aware of the destruction of the Chinese culture, having lived in Hong Kong in 1968 when the Cultural Revolution was just beginning.

“Of course, the Cultural Revolution was an attempt to destroy the old culture. They were trying to destroy a culture that was almost 5,000 years old, and I thought they could never do that.”

“The communists tried to take the arts and the crafts and the music and the dance of the old culture and tried to impose their [will]. It was basically a cultural death,” he said.

MacAdam discussed how the situation in China relates to the types of suppression that have been seen in other countries and why the  Chinese New Year Spectacular is so special.

“Nazi Germany turned out to be a death cult. The Soviet Union tried the same thing. They tried to destroy what the Russian culture was all about. Unfortunately these tyrants survived for decades, but ultimately this human spirit brings back the true culture of the society. It’s marvelous to see again.”

Despite efforts to interfere with the show’s success by the Chinese communist regime each year through its embassies and consulates, the Spectacular continues to grow and thrive.

“They don’t want the show to have success because, again, they are a death cult. That’s what they are and they don’t want to have people realize there’s another way of living.” By the end of its global tour, an expected 650,000 people in over 60 cities will have seen the performances by Divine Performing Arts.

- Source: the epochtime

Trip the light dynastic– Five millennia come alive at the Chinese New Year Spectacular

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG, the Montreal Mirror, Canada, Jan 10, 2008-

“The Year of the Rat symbolizes new beginnings and change,” says Francis Madore, spokesperson for, no, not Barack Obama, but for “not-for-profit, independent, Chinese-language television” company New Tang Dynasty TV, which is presenting the Chinese New Year Spectacular at Place des Arts this week (though the actual Chinese New Year falls on Feb. 7 this year).

(photo by the Montreal Mirror)

“The legend says that at the time of the new year, the Buddha called upon all the animals to meet him, so he could assign them roles. Only 12 showed up, and each was given a year, so people born in that year would get the characteristics of that animal. People born under the year of the rat tend to be leaders, pioneers, conquerors. They’re usually charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and of course hardworking, like you know the rat is.”

The charm quotient of rats could be debated, but the dedication of the Divine Performing Arts Troupe, composed largely of Chinese émigrés and ex-pats, is unquestionable. Among the most successful touring shows in the world, the Spectacular strives to revive five millennia of Chinese art and history without fudging the specifics.

“The movements of the dancers, the costumes they wear, the backdrops—every detail is weighed and studied so that they’re as authentic as possible,” says Madore.

“The Chinese people themselves have been disconnected from this ancient culture, which was governed by dynasties. Each dynasty had a specific culture, depending on the emperor. These are people who had high beliefs in gods and adhered to high standards of morality, and they believe that’s what enabled them to develop these rich, glorious civilizations of ancient China. Now, with the Cultural Revolution and even in historical textbooks, all this information has been altered or removed. So it’s really interesting for both Chinese and Western audiences.”

The show touches on the Tang, Qing and Song dynasties, says Madore, “and on top of that, it goes into depicting some ethnic groups that prevailed in China. For example, there’s the traditional Mongolian cup dance, where the ladies carry cups with actual milk in them on their heads. The Manchurian ethnicity is also depicted, and the Tibetans.”

Madore adds a final but not inconsequential note, an unsurprising one given the Falun Dafa Association’s collaboration on the show. “The 5,000 years of Chinese history that are covered are from the ancient times, but also modern times. Some scenes depict the human-rights issues in China in the last 50 years, so there’s something to learn there too.”

At Place des Arts (Montreal, Canada) Tuesday to Thursday, Jan. 15–17, 2008,
7:30 p.m. (also 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 16), $38–$158, all ages

- Original report from the Montreal Mirror

City Name List for the Divine Performing Arts Chinese Spectacular Worldwide Tour 2008

Click the city name below for more detail information of the biggest Chinese culture event– global tour show 2008 of Divine Performing Arts Chinese Spectacular in your city.

North America

US:
Atlanta, GA
Atlantic City, NJ
Baltimore, MD
Boston, MA
Charlotte, NC
Chicago, IL Fri. Jan 25~Sat. Jan 26, 2008
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Detroit, MI Tue. Jan 22, 2008
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Greensboro, NC
Honolulu, HI
Las Vegas, NV Mon. Jan 21, 2008
Los Angeles, CA Fri. Jan 18~ Sun. Jan 20, 2008
Minneapolis, MN Thu. Jan 24, 2008
New York City: NTDTV Chinese New Year Splendor, Wed. Jan 30 ~ Sat. Feb.9, 2008
Philadelphia, PA
Phoenix, AZ
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA Wed. Jan 23~ Sat. Jan 26, 2008
Schenectady, NY
Seattle, WA
St. Petersburg, FL

Canada:
Calgary,
Edmonton
Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto, Fri. Jan 18~ Sun. Jan 20, 2008
Vancouver

Asia - Pacific
Japan: Nagoya Osaka Tokyo

Korea:Pusan Seoul

Taiwan:Kaohsiung Taichung Tainan Taipei

Singapore:Singapore

Indonesia:Jakarta

Australia:

Adelaide Brisbane Canberra Melbourne Sydney

New Zealand:
Auckland

Europe
Germany:Berlin Duisburg Frankfurt Hamburg
Holland:Den Haag
United Kingdom:London
Belgium:Antwerpen
France:Paris
Austria:Vienna
Slovakia:Bratislava
Czech:Prague
Sweden:Linkoping Stockholm
Italy:Milan

- Source: http://www.bestchineseshows.com/

Related:
- 2008 Show Coming: Divine Performing Arts Chinese Spectacular in Vancouver (video)

Review: Enlightening and Resplendent, NTDTV’s Chinese New Year Spectacular

by Jennifer Wesnousky, Explore Dance, February 16, 2007-

China’s Tang Dynasty between 618 and 906 A.D., explains the program for the NEW TANG DYNASTY TELEVISION’S CHINESE NEW YEAR SPECTACULAR, “is often called the highest point in Chinese history. Morality and education were highly valued and society was in harmony with nature.” Formed and named for this period by Chinese people living in the United States, the goal of New Tang Dynasty Television is to utilize American free speech to educate other Chinese people about world affairs in an environment free of the historic Chinese government restrictions. Its CHINESE NEW YEAR SPECTACULAR, performed at Radio City Music Hall between February 14 and 17, 2006, paid additional tribute to the prosperous period, showcasing a mélange of traditional Chinese song and dance to the educational delight of folks from every ethnicity.

The SPECTACULAR was a spectacle from its very first moment. The curtains opened to a smoke-filled stage across which the scurrying dancers, dressed as angels, appeared to float. A screen in back of the swarm of performers projected what appeared to be genuine Chinese landscapes, which changed from scene to scene. Following the first piece and throughout the performance, a charming Chinese narrator and her male, American counterpart shed some bilingual light regarding many of the production’s depictions.

Representing different historical periods and traditions, the SPECTACULAR presented an array of diverse and delightful dances. The young performers in “Rainbows” burst in carrying mystery props that appeared like bouquets of flowers, releasing them to reveal beautiful, brightly colored garlands similar to those used in rhythmic gymnastics. With tiny steps and little body movement, the number’s focus was on musically moving the ribbons midair, sometimes creating creative shapes in the midst of spins or leaps. “Dai Ethnic Dance” featured tiny, beautiful young females whose slow motion, sensual movement and shimmying shoulders in front of a projection of a river and palm trees evoked a comparison with the Hawaiian hula. Another standout dance piece featured a barrage of male dancers in fur-lined headpieces, made to represent herders on the Mongolian plains. Their masculine dance was filled with flowing arms, jerky shoulder movements and Russian-esque toe-touches, cartwheels and airborne barrel turns.

Many of the SPECTACULAR’s dance numbers included eye-pleasing formations, flowing arms, small, scampering steps and serene, seemingly divinely inspired faces. The use of props additionally characterized several of the compositions. In addition to the “Rainbows” ribbons, the companies incorporated bright orange, parasol-shaped cloths twirling rapidly on their fingertips, flower-shaped candleholders held precariously like trays atop the dancers’ hands and, in “Victory Drums,” a plethora of drums and drumsticks meant, according to Chinese folklore to “ward off evil” as well as “bring in a happy and bright New Year.”

The show also incorporated a live orchestra as well as an assortment of vocal talent including piano-accompanied sopranos, a tenor and a contralto who displayed her incredible vocal range. While all of the performance’s vocal numbers were sung in their native dialects, their projected transcriptions and English subtitles across the performance backdrop revealed their themes, dealing often with historical movements and their devoted disciples.

Whether outfitting the singers or dancers, each and every SPECTACULAR costume was just that, incorporating a brightly colored, beautiful range of fabrics as well as intricate headpieces. Silks and chiffons abounded on outfits including dresses, skirts, pants and robes with sashes with extreme attention to detail on accessories from jeweled tiaras to flowers, bows and even butterflies.

For an hour and a half on February 16, 2007, various aspects of Chinese culture became accessible to such diverse audience members as Chinese and other Americans, including teachers and school children from a multitude of backgrounds who may otherwise never have been exposed. Through the meticulous portrayal of Chinese song, dance and instrumentation by a team of over two-hundred talented performers, the NEW TANG DYNASTY TELEVISION’s CHINESE NEW YEAR SPECTACULAR left its audience with the tranquil sensation of having witnessed something both enlightening and resplendent.

- original from Explore Dance

Dazzling Costumes Reveals Rich Chinese Culture

By Georgina Hubbard,  http://www.articledashboard.com -

The dazzling costumes in NTDTV’s Chinese New Year Spectacular are as much a part of each dance as the dance movements themselves. They are, in many ways, the palette on which the dance is performed. Clothes, hair, colors—this is what transports us to the Divine Land of ancient China.

The Spectacular’s wardrobe designers put great effort into creating just the right effect. A costume starts with a concept of the dance. The dance may have a powerful story or be found in a specific dynasty. Designers pore over paintings, frescoes and even statues to find the right look. Accessories then come into the design—hair, shoes, hats, belts. Next come sketches. Designers must consider not only how an outfit looks but also its flexibility for dance movements and whether it is durable enough to withstand over eighty performances.

Then the sketch goes to the sewing workshop. Here garment makers select just the right fabric, make the pattern and produce a sample. If it’s not just right, the whole process starts over. If the sample is approved, the task of making the clothes begins. Multiply this countless times. A single dance in this year’s Spectacular, the dance drama of General Yue Fei, required more than 100 costumes and accessories.

For Amy Lee, the principal designer in New York, this effort is well worth it. “When I came to the United States, I saw it was very difficult to find any expression of traditional Chinese culture. Through this show I see the hope of being able to preserve my culture for the benefit of my daughter and the next generation.”

Ms. Lee has worked in the fashion industry for more than twenty years. She was a professor of fashion design and fashion history in China. Although her costumes take inspiration from different dynasties and ethnic regions, her favorite dynasty is the Tang. She says the Tang Dynasty reflects the zenith of Chinese culture—artistically, economically and politically. During this time China was very open-minded. Prosperous and peaceful, the Tang Dynasty drew on influences from India, the Middle East and Europe.

According to Ms. Lee, all this is reflected in the clothes. “The clothes were rich and confident. They were uplifting,” she said. “Women wore large, open sleeves, sometimes up to two and a half feet wide. They wore see-through materials and gowns with high waists that were decorated with large, open flowers.”

Each dynasty had its own characteristics that were likewise reflected in the clothes. In general, Ms. Lee says everything can be found in the clothes—even the ancient people’s morals and values. “Clothing isn’t just a way to cover the body. It also reflects a person’s thoughts, culture and respect for the gods.”

Ms. Lee and her team use costume design to make ancient Chinese culture come alive today, to help the audience understand that traditional Chinese culture has much it can teach us today. Ms. Lee knows that through her efforts with NTDTV, these positive aspects of ancient China will not be forgotten.

Georgina Hubbard makes costumes from different historic periods by hand, and especially loves the fashion designs from China’s Tang Dynasty era.