Playing before a packed house at Toronto's Sony Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, the Chinese New Year spectacular wowed the audience with its display of traditional Chinese culture.
Among those in the audience was Biruta Platups, a retired financial manager who immigrated to Canada after the Second World War to escape communism in her native Latvia.
"Very professional, it was outstanding and I hope that I see another one like it. I was very, very impressed with seeing the culture and the dance. Some of the artists were magnificent, like the Tibetan dance. It was fantastic," said Platups.
The Spectacular impressed her on every front. "I would love to see it again. The scenery, the stage arrangement – they were magnificent – that's all I can say."
A student at the University of Guelph, Emily-Camille Gilbert came to see the Spectacular with her father on his birthday. It was unlike anything Emily, a former dance student, had seen before.
"I really like it. I think it's very different than anything I've ever seen. I studied ballet. I see a lot of the same movements and vocabulary, but this is a different set-up."
The multi-lingual Spectacular showcases large-scale dance routines, a combination of Chinese and western music and unique state-of-the art digital backdrops.
"The costumes are beautiful. The screen at the back is very interesting. I've never seen that in a dance piece before."
Her favourite dance? "I really liked the Tibetan piece. I thought that the extended arms were really intricate. Each piece has its own message."
The New York-based Divine Performing Arts Company, which presents the Spectacular, has been spurring something of a renaissance of traditional culture in the Chinese art community and is drawing the attention and admiration of audiences around the world.
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.
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