The 2008 tour of the Chinese New Year Spectacular stopped in Phoenix, Arizona on January 14, 2008. The program is produced by New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) and features the Divine Performing Arts Troupe, presenting dances inspired by ancient Chinese mythology and Chinese ethnic folk dances, as well as Chinese vocal performances. The Dodge Theatre in downtown Phoenix was the chosen venue for the performance.
The Chinese New Year Spectacular offers classical Chinese themes and expresses traditional cultural messages in the various segments of the program. The focus is on Chinese Classical Dance, requiring a great deal of training and practice to perfect. The objective for a Chinese dancer is to meld form, spirit, strength and movement to convey the meaning and emotion of the theme of the dance.
The dancers in this production were technically excellent, smooth, graceful and amazing. Even a non-expert could tell that these were professionals dancers, and not just hobbyists. I thoroughly enjoyed the intricately choreographed expressions of the different Chinese parables and philosophies presented through movement and dance. Adding another dimension to the dance, the drummers were very impressive.
Specifically relating to the Phoenix venue, I hope that the patrons in the upper levels could detect the beautiful, subtle movements of the dancers without the large screen projections. Even from a distance, though, the beauty of the colors and the costumes would be evident.
All the information provided, whether by the masters of ceremonies, or screen displays of lyrics, or the printed program, are provided in both English and Chinese. The printed program was offered at no additional charge in Phoenix, and provided a wealth of wonderful information about each segment of the show.
Although some photographs of the Chinese dancers show stage sets, and some references to the show in other cities mention a live orchestra, the performance at the Dodge Theatre utilized a backdrop with colored scenes as the set decor, and the music during dance sequences was pre-recorded. Tickets for orchestra seats started at $88.00.
Finally, it was a pleasure to see such a diverse audience in Phoenix. The Chinese New Year Spectacular has kicked off the Year of the Rat in grand fashion. I hope that Phoenix, Arizona will continue to be on the tour schedule in future years.
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