AUCKLAND, New Zealand—The Chinese Spectacular transcended cultural boundaries when it touched Egyptian couple Osama Elbeltagi and Hala Elattar with its final show in Oceania at the ASB Theatre, Auckland, April 19.
"I think it is really great, it is different, it carries a lot of Chinese culture for us, which is completely new," said Mr Elbeltagi, "The music is completely different than our own music. Our music is more live, but this music is really very relaxing. I personally enjoyed it very much."
For Ms Elattar, an administrator at Massey University Library, it was the first time she had attended a Chinese performance and she would recommended university students at her campus to come and see the show.
"For anyone actually, especially from different cultures, so they know the culture from other people, from other countries."
"They are so spiritual. Everything has a meaning and a reason and all the stories are spiritual," she said.
Mr Elbetagi said he had enjoyed so many aspects of the show.
"I like the techniques of all the dancing. I like the skills of the dancers and the stories behind it.
"I think they were very very good colours, and movements, techniques, the culture. Even the songs carry a lot of nice meaning. With the translation in English you know how much it is really valuable about honesty towards people – it was very great."
"Yea I think we learnt about values of Chinese culture like to be forbearance and compassionate and to be truthful was very, very nice."
Mr Elbetagi also singled out the drumming sequences saying, "Yeah we liked the drums and things—they have two drum sessions which is very very nice, because it makes your body move.
"It is amazing, it was really nice and it was good time for us to spend such time with just Chinese culture, the music was excellent, the techniques were amazing, just outstanding and the performers were really good. Yeah, some nice stories. very rich culture."
Mr Elbetagi said he would tell his friends: "It is completely different from the western culture – you would enjoy it. You would enjoy the composing of all the acts. You'll enjoy the dancing, the techniques, the music. So, so many things you can enjoy," he said.
Ms Elattar said that her favourite performance was the 'Risen Lotus Flower'. It depicts three female Falun Gong practitioners in a Chinese prison, where they are beaten by prison guards. One of the practitioners comes to the aid of the others, and is, as a result, beaten to death. "Because it has a story and I like the acts—it's so emotional. Yeah, the emotion that came with the story," Mr Elattar said. "It's kind of sadness that they were in the prison, then the way she sacrificed herself for them and how she moved to the other world."
"They give me the feelings, I got the feelings from the whole thing. I felt it."
Although the Spectacular mainly focuses on Chinese culture, Mr Ebeltagi said that anyone interested in seeing music and dance would enjoy it.
"I think it is really great, it is different, it carries a lot of Chinese culture for us, which is completely new for us. The music is completely different than our own music. Our music is more live, but this music is really very relaxing. I personally enjoyed it very much."
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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