NEW YORK—On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in December, the typically quiet Upper West Side neighborhood of Manhattan was abuzz with commotion as show-goers emerged from the Beacon Theatre on Broadway.
New Tang Dynasty Television's Holiday Wonders, an eclectic holiday presentation showcasing a mix of Eastern and Western performing arts, is playing at the theater from Dec. 18 through Dec. 26.
Now in its second year, Holiday Wonders, along with sister performance Chinese New Year Spectacular, is performed by the Divine Performing Arts dance company, and will embark on a global tour across 65 cities and four continents.
The world-class performance revives classical Chinese performing arts with large-scale dances evoking thousand-year-old legends, distinctive ethnic displays, moving portrayals, and resounding ballads sang by distinguished Chinese singers.
Holiday Wonders began with the portrayal of an ancient legend, when divine beings from heaven descend down to earth to fulfill a mission. The piece—with a richly animated background, ornate costumes, and thunderous music from the live orchestra—seemed to conjure images of distant realms and heavenly architecture right before the audience's eyes.
In "Xinjiang Spirit," dancers captured the vitality and warmth of China's Uygur people, a minority group found amidst the highlands of Xinjiang in China's northwest. Donning traditional caps and ethnic costumes, the performance brought to life Xinjiang's vibrant culture and their majestic homeland.
For weeks leading up to the performances, media billed the show as a new type of holiday tradition that celebrates both Eastern and Western cultures, and Holiday Wonders did not disappoint. Young harpist Seika Dong was phenomenal in her recital of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, and the Empire Brass quintet displayed their usual mastery.
Malvin from West Chester, N.Y., described the show as a marvelous display. She said, "It is very different from what we usually witness. It's quite refreshing!"
The show also delighted out-of-town guests visiting New York for the holidays. "The show was magnificent. I enjoyed the music, especially the live orchestra. The dancers were wonderful," said Margaret, who came to visit her friend in New York.
Lynne, who came to see the show from Norwalk, Conn., said that the show exceeded her expectations. "It's wonderful," she said, "I have been to [NTDTV's] 'Chinese New Year Spectacular' before, and that is how I heard about the holiday show. The drummers were great, they're all so beautiful." Lynne expressed the wish to attend future performances by Divine Performing Arts.
For local Upper West Side residents, Holiday Wonders is becoming a holiday tradition. Steve and Bonnie from Manhattan said that the show kindled their interest in Chinese culture. "This is the first time I've witnessed such costumes and storylines. They're very interesting." Steve, who works in a New York bank, heard of the show from a coworker.
Nuns from the Selician Convent in Lodi, N.J, also attended the event. Sister Fidez said that she could feel the energy emanating from the performers, who were simply heavenly. "The colors and costumes were amazing," she said.
For Bernard, another New York resident, one word was enough to describe his experience: "It was fantastic!"
Holiday Wonders concludes its New York tour on Wednesday, Dec. 26, and will appear at the Caesars Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., on Dec. 28. NTDTV is an independent, not-for-profit television station based in New York. For more information about Holiday Wonders, please visit http://www.holidaywonders.net.