The acclaimed Chinese New Year Spectacular opened at Toronto's Sony Centre for Performing Arts Friday night to an enthusiastic welcome from Torontonians.
"The whole show was very impressive," said Toronto School Board Trustee and longtime MPP John Hastings. "The scenes, the background, the lighting—all the elements came together in a unifying theme."
The Divine Performing Arts Spectacular showcases Chinese traditional culture through large-scale dance routines, a combination of Chinese and western music and colourful state-of-the art digital backdrops.
Hastings was particularly intrigued by the Mongolian Bowl Dance, as well as the Drummers of the Tang Court and the scene featuring three Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted for their belief in China.
The Divine Performing Arts claims that it is not only interested in conveying the aesthetic beauty of the performances in the Spectacular , but also their inner meaning.
"Harmonious, peaceful. Those would be the two principal characteristics I see," said Hastings. Then added, "Inner beauty."
He also commented on the educational value of the show for children in schools.
"I think it would be great if they had CDs of this. Then they could be shown in the schools. This would get across the traditional Chinese culture more effectively."
"It opens up cultural avenues they would normally probably not see. Lots of people don't travel beyond their little town or city, so to have that kind of thing available would be very beneficial for everyone"
After Toronto, the Spectacular will continue on its world tour, playing in the U.S., Japan, Korea, Paris, Singapore and Australia before heading to Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton in the spring.
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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