ANTWERP, Belgium—Following the opening night performance of Divine Performing Arts' Chinese Spectacular on Tuesday, February 26, we had an opportunity to catch up with the multitalented and renowned dancer/choreographer/producer Hugo Fanari and the former head of the Royal Ballet School of Antwerp Marinella Paneda.
Hugo Fanari (HF): Good evening.
Epoch Times (ET): You just saw the Chinese Spectacular and you said that it was the first time you saw this kind of show. Why did you say this is the first time?
Marinella Paneda (MP): Because, here in Belgium, more precisely here in Antwerp, we never had the opportunity to see a Chinese spectacular, and this is why it was very interesting to see the way you want to show your country's culture, here in Belgium, and in Europe. I think it is marvellous that you are doing this, so we can fill the gap, and I think that art brings people closer, people and nations closer, and this is marvellous, this is a wonderful initiative.
HF: What made it interesting, is that it wasn't only a dance demonstration, but also a musical culture, through instruments, songs, clothes. The custom of certain styles is to present moves, with humour, with love, and a historical message. So this is a very complete spectacular that makes [one] think a lot, and people come out of this show completely appeased and filled with a need to know more about China.
MP: I also thought that: I'll have to go to China. I'll have to read about China, so to say, you are promoting your country by making such a show.
HF: In this way, you are a bit of an ambassador, an artist is the ambassador for its own country.
ET: I already told you about the actual China tainted with the Communist Party culture, it is not exactly the same if we watch shows like this one tonight compared to all the other things that are coming from China today, I think you can feel this.
MP: Yeah we can feel this very deeply, because we read about China and its history, which is a huge history, so that naturally when we see this show, we can only think, "They are taking a very good start, they are trying to show who they really are," and I think this is very important.
HF: It is always important for a person to keep faithful to one's personality, and to want to share it.
ET: So, you can recognize the style and what the show is made of?
MP: Yes of course, we recognize, we can also see that this is ballet, because we can recognize certain steps, and we know about the ballet's structure. Naturally, you are talking about Chinese classical dance … I think we could say that this is the folkloric gathering of diverse people, certain Mongolian dance is mentioned, certain parties of certain countries of China are mentioned, and to me it sounds more folkloric.
HF: It looks like an alphabet, to learn how to make up a book. Novels and styles, there are a lot, but there is a certain alphabet, and the alphabet you use is the one of classical dance, and you make up stories and tell the stories with a very Chinese style, and this is what makes the charm.
MP: This is true, yes this is true, I completely agree with you … and … I loved the drums … And when you feel this masculinity, this strength, I found that so marvellous, you can feel those drums beat unto the depths of your soul, while in the girls you can see the femininity, the beauty, the grace in the movement, and I adored that too … well, we adored everything.
HF: I have to say this is a very complete spectacular, we could exchange some words, and we also appreciated the singers, every one different, very touching, moving, interesting voices, and when I see an artist such as the lady who plays the Chinese violin [erhu], that was really transporting.
MP: I found the Chinese violin absolutely marvellous, I never heard it, I didn't even know that it could exist. I must say I'm terrible, it is really a gap in my education that I didn't know that … I found that marvellous.
HF: It is also the charisma of the lady who played, this is a spectacular, so there is not only the sound that we are talking about, but also the visual, and the charisma of that lady … is fantastic, she is a very touching person.
MP: But I think she is very touching especially because she becomes one with her instrument, she is her instrument, her instrument is her, I think this is very good.
HF: I think that the Spectacular has been very hard work, and I wish you a good continuation.
MP: I wish you the same and thank you for the interview, and maybe we'll meet another time in China!
For information about upcoming Divine Performing Arts shows, please visit:
www.DivinePerformingArts.org.
The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Chinese Spectacular. For our complete coverage please visit:
http://en.epochtimes.com/features/dpa2008/
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