NEW YORK—State of the art high-tech digital backgrounds, floating heavenly maidens and vibrant Tang drummers are just a fraction of what the Chinese New Year Splendor is currently offering at New York's Radio City Music Hall.
"I've never seen a show like this. I have seen other Chinese shows and they were not like this…this is special," said college student Maria Saratci who came to the Splendor with a group of friends.
"It was very beautiful... very beautiful with all the intricacies of the dancing and the music. It was all very authentic," she added.
While her favorite performances were the fan dance and the drumming, Saratci was particularly impressed by the performance depicting the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. "The whole show up until then was depicting historical parts of China and this was just bringing it back to today and that was really special."
Saratci was referring to an act in the show that tells the story of a contemporary tragedy in China: the persecution of Falun Gong, a meditation practice and spiritual discipline currently being brutally suppressed by the Chinese regime.
Wanting to see how the Chinese celebrated the New Year, teenager Lucie Chabarria attended the Splendor with her family and friend Sofia Ramirez. They were impressed by what they saw. "They do a lot of dancing, tumbling acrobatics and drumming. The back drops were amazing and the dancing was gorgeous especially the part with the waterfall," said Chabarria.
Showcasing the beauty and creativity of Chinese classical dance, "Nymphs of the Sea" has been an audience favorite with its depiction of legendary sea deities dancing gracefully amidst waves of flowing water.
Chabarria was also impressed by the erhu. "It was very, very nice," she said.
The erhu, a two-stringed Chinese instrument, similar in sound to a violin but known to for its particularly melancholic sound, has enchanted people for generations.
The Korean folk dancing backed by high snow-capped mountains was another of her favorites. Her friend Sofia Ramirez liked the drums and the gymnastics. They all said would come again next year.
Actress/director Alicia Kaplan was also in the audience and, like many, was impressed by the high-tech backdrop.
"It was wonderful and I love the idea with the set it was all computerized and it was very well done. I dance as well so I really love the dancing. the MC's were also very good."
Her impression of the show? "It was wonderful." The Chinese New Year Splendor continues in New York through Saturday, Feb. 9. For other shows in the Divine Performing Arts world tour, please visit: www.DivinePerformingArts.org . The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese New Year Splendor..
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