The Montreal premiere of Divine Performing Arts Chinese New Year Spectacular played to an audience of about 1,200 last night at Place des Arts.
Prior to the show, a reception was held at the Maisonneuve Theatre which was attended by about 70 VIP's, including government officials, leaders from Montreal's business, artistic, university, and Chinese communities, and the show's sponsors and patrons.
Speaking at the reception, Joe Wang, president of sponsor NTDTV Canada, said the Spectacular helps to revive China's ancient culture and traditions.
To this end, Divine Performing Arts, the New York-based company that performs the shows, has embarked on an ambitious world tour that will span 65 cities on four continents.
"I have three wishes," said Wang. "To [help] bring the Chinese New Year Spectacular to Montreal every year, to have NTDTV broadcast in Montreal, and to learn to speak French."
The crowd laughed when Wang said that when he tried out his French at last year's Montreal Spectacular everyone thought he was speaking Chinese.
Xun Li, president of the Falun Dafa Association of Canada, one of the patrons of the show, said China's rich culture was all but destroyed after the advent of communism and the Cultural Revolution.
"In ancient china, faith in the divine was present in all of society, and in turn the country prospered. Unfortunately, communism destroyed these precious traditions and beliefs."
Li said the show portrays cultural treasures of ancient China and the fundamental values people lived by, such as morality, courage, loyalty, and goodness.
"You will find the show enlightening, inspiring, and entertaining," said Li.
Master of ceremonies, Frances Madore, invited the distinguished guests "to bathe themselves in the Chinese culture that is the heart of the show."
The Chinese New Year Spectacular will play at Place des Arts in Montreal again on Jan. 16 and 17. The show's next stop will be Toronto.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts shows that will perform in over 60 cities worldwide in 2008. To find a show near you, please visit www.bestchineseshows.com.
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