Beautiful, vibrant Chinese
Dragons gallivanting across the stage, the original China maids with their
multi-colored, vivacious traditional garb dancing, laughing and in anticipation
for the Chinese New Year. The splendor of China
is arriving to New York City.
This is entertainment at its
bestcolorful and uplifting fare that will put a smile on everyones face. And from Berlin
to Tokyo, Paris
to Philadelphia, New York
to Sydney, people the world over will experience
it first-hand, thanks to New Tang Dynasty Televisions Holiday
wonders and Chinese New Year Splendor.
New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV),
an international, non-profit television network based in New York City, is no stranger to putting on a
magnificent show. 2008 marks the fifth year of its shows, which began in 2004
in only five cities worldwide, but rapidly expanded, playing over 40
international cities in 2007. In the upcoming year, over 200 performers will
take part in the show in 60 cities worldwide.
NTDTV has made its name in
the cultural world with these stunning showcases of authentic and traditional
Chinese performing arts. In New York,
its show ranked among Billboard Magazines top 10 shows in February 2006. In
2008, the show will be performed at such distinguished international venues as New Yorks Radio
City Music
Hall and Los Angeless
Kodak Theatre. NTDTV is also debuting a new show, Holiday Wonders, which will
take place during the holiday season at the historic Beacon Theatre in New York City.
Their dedication to bringing
back the lost arts of traditional Chinese culture to the modern stage is
impressive. Much has been lost during recent Chinese history, and NTDTV, with
its mission to foster understanding between people of Chinese and other
cultures, has made an effort to bring these arts to a truly global audience. In
effect, they have created the largest Chinese New Year event in the worldno
other Chinese cultural show is produced on such an international scale. NTDTVs
Holiday Wonders and Chinese New Year Splendor is essentially an entirely new
experience for its audience.
The show does not feature a
running narrative like most modern-day performances in the West. Instead, the
program presents a variety of dance, vocal, and instrumental performances that
each stand on their own, but together also create an intriguing mix of flavors.
This format is in keeping with the song and dance form that has been passed
down for centuries in China,
and it ensures there really will be something for everyone, much like a
ten-course Chinese banquet.
The most striking parts of
the program are the large-scale dances.
It is quite a sight to seerow upon row of dancers moving together in a
way that is disciplined but still fluid. In 2006, one of the audience favorites
was Plum Blossoms, in which dancers used Chinese fans to portray the
resilience of the tiny plum blossom, one of the most beloved Chinese flowers
because of how they bloom in the cold of winter.
Some of the richest
performances are in the form of dance dramas that depict the stuff of Chinese
legends, with fairy maidens, brave warriors, and loyal souls. There are quite a
few of these kinds of gentle reminders about virtues and honor running through
this show, giving it more depth and soulfulness than perhaps one would
initially expect.
One could say that every
detail of NTDTVs shows tend to be suffused with traditional Chinese
culturefrom the intricate, hand-worked costumes to the colorful, digitally
projected backdrops. Many of these backdrops resemble Chinese ink-and-brush
paintings, and dazzling effects are achieved when the screens are animated,
depicting snowfall covering the countryside or clouds rolling across the sky.
NTDTVs shows are a refreshing
and generous addition to the cultural scene. They transport the audience to a
different time and place, and leave them richer for the experience.
Entertainment at its best, indeed.
