NTDTV Global Gala: Spanning Culture, Language and the Arts

New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) celebrated the Year of the Dog last weekend at the Sydney State Theatre with a Chinese New Year Global Gala that offered something for everyone.

In front of a packed house, the global collection of artists performed Eastern and Western classics and an inspiring selection of traditional dance and drum groups from Ukraine, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Sydney's NTDTV gala is a first for Australia and judging by its success it will not be the last.

A communal feeling pervaded the night with grandparents shepherded to their seats by grandchildren dressed in their finest, while family groups lead by mums and dads weaved through the crowd. A number of local councillors and state MP's were also seen scattered through the audience.

While the night celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Dog the gala was also represented a cultural appreciation of East and West. The diversity of the Oriental contribution was a hit with the crowd.

The second act of the night jumped straight into a traditional Chinese performance by Weigang Hu on the Suona or traditional Chinese Trumpet. With the Eastern context established the stage was set for the next act – dancers from Taiwan's University of Arts.

To predicate this beautiful sequence, the audience was reminded that Chinese New Year celebrations not only acknowledge the beginning of another year but also celebrate the coming of spring. Replete with fine flowing robes, traditional hair and make-up, the dozen slender dancers spun and weaved around the stage, gradually throwing their long coloured sleeves into wheels and shapes in order to mimic nature's explosion of flowers.

The Taiwan dance group performed a number of sequences through the night, with each one based on ancient Chinese myths and traditions with names like "Blessing of the Taoist Whisk" and "Buddha Light Illuminated".

Traditional Chinese singer Bai Xue, resplendent in a flowing dress of spring pink, thrilled the audience with her magnificent performance while, Chinese flautist Chai Chang Ning seemed to embody the spirit of the gala as a whole. A former lecturer at the Central Conservatorium of China, Chai performed two traditional and moving pieces from the Tang Dynasty.

As always in Chinese culture, it is all about balance. To counteract the light and seemingly heavenly quality of dancers and musicians, a number of drum troupes performed, including an all-female one from South Korea. Loud and earthy their rhythmic sequences and precision timing roused the audience to a noisy response.

Another crowd pleaser was the St Andrews Cathedral School Choir, which sang beautiful renditions of the traditional Chinese "Ode to Lotus" and "I still call Australia Home", far exceeding the standard of a school hall.

The strength of the gala was not only in the broad nature of its appeal but the quality of the acts.

Mezzo soprano, Marienne Shepherd and Soprano Helena Sindelar were sublime in their individual repertoires and their combined rendition of the popular "Lakme Flower Duet".

Concert pianist, Chen Rueiben's solo performance was commendable for its precision and flair, commanding even more respect with the knowledge he had only arrived from North America early that day.

Special guest of the night, Malaysian born Kamahl delighted the audience with pertinent renditions of "Love is In the Air" and "I did it My Way". Kamahl told The Epoch Times that he had been very impressed by the evenings performances and would be delighted to appear again next year if invited by NTDTV.

The exhilarating legwork of the Ukranian Dance Group dancers and the precision playing of the Sydney Balalaika Orchestra more than validated the saying of "if it is traditional, it must be good".

One of the few totally Australian performances on the night came in an equally beautiful but more serious tone. Buddha Nature (Fo Xing), sang two songs inspired by their practice of Falun Gong. Their songs were uplifting and full of heart, in stark contrast to the persecution of the spiritual practice in China.

While blues and yellow were particularly prominent, the usual lashings of bright red paint, synonymous with "Red China", were absent.

President of NTDTV in Australia, Mr Cy Wong said there was a conscious decision to dissociate the Chinese production from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). For many Chinese the red of the CCP represents the blood of many millions of Chinese that have died under the regime.

Mr Wong said the Communist Party in China had attempted to destroy traditional Chinese culture and values, but it was time now for all Chinese to "stand up, rebuild and restore those traditional values".

NTDTV, an independent non-profit Chinese language broadcaster, is committed to creating "better understanding between Chinese and Western societies" and to promoting "international values on human rights and freedom", Mr Wong said. He said hosting a Chinese New Year gala was one way of achieving these goals.

Mr Wong explained that NTDTV galas were "a bit different to the Western style" of entertainment and were more oriental in their focus on tradition and family values. Families should be cherished, Mr Wong said, as the family unit is core to the community and society at large.

To that effect there was no lack of spirit in moving forward to embrace the Year of the Dog, (known in Chinese astrology to represent loyalty, unconditional service and integrity). For the final act of the night six huge temple drums were moved onto the stage for the final act. Framed by symbols, gongs and traditional male Chinese dancers, the State Theatre resonated with the drums' powerful presence of the NTDTV Chinese Flag Drum Dance from Taiwan.

In all how would one sum up the Chinese New Year Gala? It was different and inspiring, and judging by the buzz of the audience as they left the grand old theatre, a great success.