Chinese New Year Spectacular (NTDTV)
February 7 is the start of Chinese New Year. Now technically that has nothing to do with movies but... This year is the Year of the Rat, which makes it my year, since the Rat is my Chinese zodiac animal (I'm a metal rat if you want to be specific). So I figure that gives me some leeway to do as I please for the whole year, right? Well, that's my explanation for why I wanted to highlight a non-film event. Tonight through January 17 New Tang Dynasty Television presents the Chinese New Year Spectacular at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.
Mixing music, spectacle and acrobatics, the Chinese New Year Spectacular takes audiences on a journey back to Chinas Golden Age of the Tang Dynasty. The San Diego and Los Angeles engagements are part of a global tour of 50 cities during the Chinese New Year Season. The show features traditional Chinese dance, music, song, martial arts and mini-dramas, as it celebrates China's rich cultural past with a series of thematic vignettes designed to inspire and educate audiences about authentic Chinese culture.
New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV) is an independent, nonprofit Chinese language TV broadcaster that began broadcasting via satellite in North America in Februrary 2002. According to their press release, "NTDTV is the only Chinese language station broadcasting uncensored information into China. The Network has gained an international reputation for its objective and timely reporting of political, economic and cultural stories in the Chinese language, and for multi-faceted educational and entertainment programs that bring together the finest in both Eastern and Western cultures."
Their mission statement, as outlined on their web site, includes providing viewers with accurate information to enrich their knowledge and lives; fostering understanding between Chinese and Western societies; assisting Chinese people outside China to adapt and assimilate to mainstream society; and contributing to pluralism and free flow of information in the Chinese-language media.
If you enjoy Asian films and martial arts as I do, then you should check out this Chinese New Year Spectacular where you can see performers live on stage do some amazing things.
For films that look at the Chinese performance arts, check out
Painted Faces, King of Masks,
or
Farewell My Concubine
Jennifer Chung
January 18, 2008 at 09:25 PM
I can't believe people are getting so misled! I went last year to the Chinese New Year Spectacular show in San Diego. I thought it was going to be about dancing and singing old traditional music. Turns out when you look at the words they sing or the words shown on the walls or played by the children of one of the major San Diego youth orchestra groups, it is PRO-FALUN GONG and against Communist China. Of course, I don't believe in Communism, but I feel misled by this group. They are passing off Chinese New Year for their own political and religious beliefs. They have the children of the youth orchestra playing falun gong music without them even knowing it! It's starting to really feel like a cult! The way they are misleading people! This is just like how Falun Gong got kicked out of SF's Chinese New Year parade. Not trustworthy at all!
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Penelope Lee
January 21, 2008 at 06:37 AM
I just saw it yesterday in Toronto and was completely taken aback at the pro-Falun Gong undertones (actually, it was pretty overt). What I have an issue with is not Falun Gong, but the fact that I felt deceived about what the show is about. For example, the show's marketing material did not advertise that there would be 4 mediocore soloists singing pro Falun Gong songs, among other strongly pro Falun Gong performaces. What I was expecting was a mixed bag of traditional Chinese cultural performances - not to be preached at about 'Red Crooks' and something to the effect of 'those with enmity towards Buddha's Law will not be saved'. I found it ironic one of the lines of the songs was something like, 'we're not here for political gain, but to tell the truth'.
Tai Ji Quan London
from London
July 27, 2008 at 06:07 PM
I'm from London and have always been exposed to and mesmerised by Chinese and wider Asian culture.
My
Tai Chi teacher
Tai Chi teacher is also a retired doctor and hi background in medicine works really well with his understanding of chinese medicine.
He's a Father of a friend of mine and he's been giving me one on one intensive tuition, as well as his classes.
I hope to travel to Chinese on day.
Joe
