AUCKLAND, New Zealand—The Chinese Spectacular kicked off with a very ethnic VIP function on Friday night in New Zealand's biggest and most multi-cultural city.
Auckland is host to all four New Zealand shows and the atmosphere was bright with anticipation as guests mingled in the Limelight Room at the Aotea Centre.
Little girls in colourful and traditional Chinese costume flitted about, while an emperor strutted in his regalia.
Hosts of the Divine Performing Arts Chinese Spectacular, the New Tang Dynasty Culture & Arts Exchange Centre and the Falun Dafa Association of New Zealand welcomed MPs, Kaumatua, Ambassadors, City councillors, lawyers, Burmese monks, and business people.
Green MP Keith Locke attended the Spectacular, in part as support for the show after the Chinese Consulate had tried to interfere by sending a letter to the North Shore City Mayor's office, attempting to dissuade officials from attending.
New Zealand First MP Pita Paraone was also in attendance, along with Labour MP Ross Robertson and United Future MP Judy Turner. Bernie Ogilvy, secretary of the Kiwi Party also came.
Kaumatua Grant Hawke and his wife were both glad to be at the show after a busy day.
Members of the Auckland City Council and Ambassadors from several Consulates attended.
Vina Lee, principal dancer and choreographer, spoke about the New York-based Divine Performing Arts group and how they wish to reclaim the traditional values that communism has destroyed over time.
'The dancers were very fluid, very technically correct'
At intermission The Epoch Times caught up with Noeleen Peterson, a business manager and dancer.
"I loved the dancing and the costumes, very beautiful. The dancers were very fluid, very technically correct."
Ms Petersen is a salsa dancer and has done ballet in the past. "If you were a dancer you would appreciate it," she said.
"I must admit I am impressed with the girls who danced when they did the tea cup dance ['Mongolian Bowl Dance']. That was very beautiful. Just the way they move, I think is very very beautiful. It's so... I can see where ballet and all the rest of it comes from. Very impressed."
Ms Petersen, a South African, came to the show with her mother to celebrate their birthdays. "It's a nice mother-daughter thing to do."
For information about upcoming Divine Performing Arts shows, please visit:
www.BestChineseShows.com.
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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