Australia's Gold Coast, a sprawling coastal metropolis an hour south of Queensland's capital Brisbane stepped up a notch this week with a high level performance of traditional Chinese culture.
The NTDTV 2007 Chinese New Year Spectacular, a rare refined display of fine Chinese dance, pure music and by all accounts sublime singing, was an unusual event for the "golden coast" which is better known for its fun filled beach based lifestyle.
Gold Coast Lord Mayor, Ron Clarke, said the Gold Coast was now a spread out but established city which was soon to mark its maturity with a new theatre and arts centre.
The theatre would seat over 2000 people he said and would be the most appropriate setting for the type of "fabulous" performance the Spectacular was offering.
"We'd like that sort of show from all over the world," he said, "Because of those qualities I mentioned – because the scenes, the costumes, the colour, the peace, the artistry – is just top class."
"This to me is a perfect show," he said.
Mr Clarke, a former Olympian long distance runner, said the Spectacular was beautifully presented and was everything he expected Chinese culture to be.
"It epitomised what Chinese culture is about – the beautiful precision, the peace, the costumes, the colour all personified China to me."
Mr Clarke, was part of a collection of distinguished guests who attended the Spectacular's premier night on the "golden coast". Amongst them was Brisbane City Councillor, Graham Quirk.
Councillor Quirk was unable to attend the Brisbane premier the night before but was so keen to see the show he drove the hour South to catch the Gold Coast performance.
According to Councillor Quirk it was worth it.
"It was a real crowd pleaser," he said, "the Divine Performing Arts group had given 'a magnificent performance.'"
"They have clearly performed outstandingly in reflecting Chinese culture," he said.
It has brought the stories and history of Chinese culture to the viewers, he said.
Councillor Quirk said the Spectacular has impacted his understanding of Chinese culture.
"Clearly there has been a message within the performance as well."
The NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular has extended its global shows to more screenings in New Zealand, Korea and Taiwan with the Divine Performing Arts group who are the artistic force behind New Tang Dynasty Television's Holiday Wonders and Chinese New Year Spectacular shows each year. Its mission is to rediscover the essence of true, traditional culture and to bring arts to the world that celebrate human dignity and positive values. It produces and performs works that center on classical themes and divinely-inspired cultural traditions. The group's performances aim to provide an experience of consummate beauty and goodness. For further information about the show in your city, please visit shows.ntdtv.com.
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