OTTAWA—Before the Chinese Spectacular came along, most overseas Chinese were unaware of the breadth and profundity of their ancient culture. The same is true for their counterparts in China, because after the advent of European communism Chinese culture was quashed.
Divine Performing Arts (DPA), a performance company based in New York, has since 2004 been reviving Chinese traditional culture through the Chinese Spectacular, a lavish production that tours extensively for about four months each year.
“Traditional Chinese culture was almost completely destroyed by the Cultural Revolution,” said Vina Lee, DPA lead dancer, choreographer and assistant manager.
“The mission of our performance is to revive traditional Chinese culture and the values of pure grace, kindness, sincerity, and human dignity.”
The ancients lived by these values, said Ms. Lee, and their essence is embodied in the Spectacular. DPA strives to make every aspect of the production as true to history as possible, from the finest details of the handmade costumes to the depiction of the ancient myths and legends.
Chinese classical dance is a hallmark of the show, and audiences around the world have been thrilled by the grace and proficiency of the dancers as they perform in popular numbers such as Lady of the Moon and Water Sleeves.
“Everything was impressive. Each single act had its own energy and character,” said Elvis Stojko, the famed Canadian figure skating champion, after seeing the show in Toronto last month.
Chinese classical dance is featured in The Spectacular, which also includes some folk and ethnic dance styles which were popular in Chinese culture.
“There’s a lot of depth to it, and a lot of meaning. They take it very seriously, and it’s beautiful to see,” said ballet dancer Vanessa Harwood after attending the show last January. Harwood was a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada.
Performances by leading solo musicians are also an integral part of the show, and include sopranos, tenors and basses accompanied by piano. The stirring, soulful sounds of the two-stringed erhu are always a hit with the audience.
The Divine Performing Arts Orchestra, composed of highly accomplished musicians, breaks new ground in bringing together Chinese and Western instruments, creating a fusion of unforgettable music.
“We are not simply playing musical medleys. Instead, we play to accompany the productions. Therefore there are high requirements for us to match the content of the dances,” said conductor Rutang Chen.
“Every production is an integrated piece. While the dancers perform, I need to add the music to match their movements, and our music must always match their need. Our band actively communicates with the dancers. For example, as our show continues, dancers will have new understandings and thus add some subtle changes to their movements. On such occasions, our band must match such changes.”
During last season’s international tour, more than 600,000 people saw the Spectacular in 66 cities worldwide. The 2009 tour is expected to be even more extensive.
In Canada, the show is slated to play in the following cities in 2009: Ottawa, Jan. 2 – 4: Kitchener and Waterloo, Jan. 6 – 7: Toronto, Jan. 8 – 14: Montreal, Jan. 16 – 18: Vancouver, April 3 – 8: Calgary, 12 – 13: Edmonton, April 15 – 16
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