(Clearwisdoml.net) On January 31, 2008, the second evening performance of the Chinese New Year Splendor successfully concluded in New York City's Radio City Music Hall. This show was a joint performance by members of the the New York Divine Performing Arts, the Divine Performing Arts touring company, and the Divine Performing Arts Orchestra. Reviews from Eastern and Western audience have been quite positive.
Ms. Diana Yi (left), a doctor from Chongqing City and her husband, Peter Zhang, a medical researcher, brought their two children to the Chinese New Year Splendor (Photo by Wang Yuxin, Epoch Times)
Ms. Diana Yi, a medical doctor from Chongqing City, China, and her husband, Peter Zhang, a medical researcher, brought their two children to the second Chinese New Year Splendor evening performance on January 31, 2008. Peter, who compared the show with traditional Chinese culture, mentioned that the choreography, the lights, and the backdrops were indeed very well done, something rare to see in China. "The performance was great. I feel the backdrops and the sound effects were quite good. Applying high-tech skills to the backdrop designs had a stunning impact. Together with the dances, it is really professional. The choreography was perfect. I like the dance performances. I have already seen the performance two or three times. I feel this level of artistry is rather high. It is based on the great Tang Dynasty culture. This basis is really good!
"This performance helps to revive and disseminate traditional Chinese culture. In the US, many Westerners do not understand Chinese culture very well. Frankly speaking, traditional Chinese culture in China has not received enough attention. There are too many modern things, and there is too much emphasis on entertainment; the caliber is low. I did not have the same feeling or had a less strong feeling when I was in China, perhaps because I had remained there too long. Only after coming to the US did we get a chance to see such a performance."
Peter continued, "Actually, I don't really know about classical Chinese dance because of my education in China. From viewing historic movies and TV programs I became aware of the existence of certain court dances. Additionally, China had many dynasties as well as many ethnic groups, over 50 of them. Every ethnic group has its own special customs. So what are the orthodox Chinese classic dances? I am not sure about this. Nevertheless, I feel that today's performance is relatively traditional."
He went on, "The great Tang Dynasty even now plays a very important role in binding overseas Chinese people together, because it does not involve any independence issues, right? However, if it touches other political issues, things will get little complicated. Because the great Tang Dynasty represents traditional Chinese culture, I believe that people in Taiwan also like it, so do the people in Hong Kong. It can play the role of silently influencing people."
Peter's wife, Diana, said, "This performance was outstanding! This was the third time for us to see the performance. From Beacon Theatre to the Broadway, and then to Radio City, I feel that the performers' artistic level gets stronger and stronger and also increasingly higher. We are very happy to be here."
She continued, "We enjoyed the show very much. All the performers had new acts. Furthermore, our children also like the show more and more. Our third-grade child came with us."
