Australian audiences have joined the chorus from North America, Europe and Japan in singing the praises of New Tang Dynasty Television's (NTDTV) 2007 Chinese New Year Spectacular.
A multi-dimensional performance of Chinese dance, song and music the Spectacular, which opened in Brisbane March 17 presented an intriguing mix of Oriental grace, Western technological know-how and universal themes which, by all accounts, local theatre goers and distinguished guests alike say they loved it in different ways.
Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane Philip Aspinall said he had been "struck" by the show. "It was very beautiful," he told The Epoch Times on opening night, "I felt there was a meditative quality to the dances and music."
Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett, who confessed that fine arts and music were not his specialty, said; "It was pretty impressive".
The erhu or Chinese violin was particularly moving, the senator said, noting that its awesome melody sprang from the ancient instrument's single string.
Vice-President of the Vietnamese Community in Queensland Ms Thao Nguyen commended all the singers, musicians and dancers for their precision performances but said there was more to the show than just their grace and beauty.
The strength of the show, she felt, lay in its profound and "very meaningful" messages.
"I had feelings of sadness in my thoughts," Ms Nguyen said, "it reminded me of all the hardship and pain that people endure in this world."
"It was very moving," she said quietly.
The Spectacular takes its audience on an artistic journey through ancient and ethnic cultures of China's colourful history. However with references to Tibet, repressed minorities and the persecution of Falun Gong, more pressing issues are never far away.
Umesh Chandra, the publisher of the Indian Times in Queensland, said the show was something special and gained its strength in the way the levity of issues were counterbalanced by the colour and playfulness of the dance sequences.
"This is something quite extraordinary that we are witnessing here tonight," Mr Chandra said. "We have seen many other shows and they are all right they are shows.
"This one tonight, the choreography and the way it is presented with the spiritual backing that is just fabulous."
"You can feel the power and energy behind the show."
While the depth of the Spectacular seems to drive the intensity of the performances, the breadth of the show adds to its universal appeal
Much of China's colourful history has grown from its ethnic diversity and the Spectacular honours that diversity with a range of beautifully detailed costumes and vibrant characteristic dance sequences.
John Packer, a Brisbane architect, who attended the matinee session of the Spectacular with four family members, said the whole family had enjoyed the show. Mr Packer said the range of costumes had been most impressive.
"All the costumes were sensational, very different, intricate in design, and representing different regions of China," Mr Packer explained.
The energetic drum sequence in Resounding Drums, the colourful ribbon dance in Rainbows and the stately movements of Ladies of the Manchu Court were also popular among Mr Packer's group, although all agreed it was hard to pick out the best.
The costumes were one of the things Susan Hutchinson, a librarian from Cooparoo, Brisbane, came to see.
"They were absolutely gorgeous," she said reflecting on the Mongolian Bowl Dance. "It was lovely the way that the costumes lifted up when they were doing the kind of Cossack knee portion of it and you could see the whole costume from toe to head It was multi-layered very nice."
Children in the audience also enjoyed the show and were surprisingly receptive to its deeper themes.
Julieanne Peters, 9, who was there with her mother and her best friend Natasha Stevanovic, said she was impressed by a dance called Candlelight Vigil which features a very young Chinese orphan, dressed in white, surrounded by dancers who displayed their compassion towards her by encircling her. The little girl represented all of the children orphaned in China due to the regime's torture of their parents for their spiritual practice of Falun Gong
"I've never seen a girl so little dance like that. It made me feel sad, but also happy. I felt sad because her parents died, but happy because she got to dance with all the others." Natasha Stevanovic, 11, who also liked Candlelight Vigil said another favourite was the exploding ribbons. "They looked like butterflies.
Natasha said she had one word to sum up the show and that was "Wow".
Alison Holloway, Professor, Faculty of Health Science, University of Queensland said there were so many things she liked about the show she "Totally enjoyed it".
"I think the use of the backdrop is very clever, indeed. The costumes are really spectacular... And the dancing is so graceful," she said.
The show is certainly something that you need to say to your friends if they haven't seen it. I will tell them, "You must see it".
Ron Clarke, former Olympian long distance runner and now Lord Mayor of the Gold Coast said he was looking forward to having shows like the Spectacular at the new Arts Precinct being planned for the region
At the Gold Coast premiere of the show, Mr Clarke told The Epoch Times he thought the show was "fabulous" and would be perfect for the new precinct's, 2000 seat theatre.
"We'd like that sort of show from all over the world," he said, "Because of the scenes, the costumes, the colour, the peace, the artistry it is just top class."
"This to me is a perfect show," he said.
The NTDTV Chinese 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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