January 3rd, 2007 – New Tang Dynasty Television's Chinese New Year Spectacular
January 3rd, 2007 Wednesday
2pm-4: 30 pm
& 8:00pm- 10:30 pm
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Hamilton at Dunsmuir
I saw last year's show and was amazed! The show combined martial arts, singing, dancing, and historical legends and stories into a theatrical stage production. I wrote my review of the 2006 New Tang Dynasty TV's Chinese New Year Global
and said that:
The show is both a showcase of a Chinese interpretation of
multiculturalism and also a message of compassion and spirituality,
underlined by Buddhist and Confucian sensibilities. This would
not be unlike any Western society celebration of Christmas with
Christian storytelling about the birth of Jesus, or how it is important
to give gifts and celebrate peace at Christmastime. Chinese New
Year is the largest holiday celebration of the year – in fact it is the
“Christmas” of the Asian world.
In Vancouver and Canada, we often have an insulated view of Chinese culture and the global Chinese diaspora around the world. Multi-generational Chinese-Canadians like myself complain that new immigrants are “too Chinese,”and the immigrants complain that the Canadian-born Chinese are “not Chinese enough.” Canadian racism over the past 120 years had a big hand in shaping the form of Chinese-Canadian culture that we have today, through the head tax, the exclusion act, and other systemic racist barriers. But the new Chinese immigrants don't often understand or even care about Chinese-Canadian history, nor the tremendous barriers the pioneers had to overcome. And the multigenerational Canadians of Chinese ethnicity don't understand or even care about Chinese history, myths or legends.
With the rise of Chinese immigration to Canada, the economic clout of China's global economy, as well as an increase of multicultural understanding in Canada, we will see a proliferation of theatrical stage shows that will address the history and culture of one of humankind's longest continuous and most populous peoples – the Chinese. I have particularly enjoyed the shows put on by Dennis Law at the Centre in Vancouver Centre for Performing Arts such as Terracotta Warriors, Senses, and
Heart Beat. Like the New Tang Dynasty show, they draw on Chinese culture and history to tell stories that are universal as well as historically important.
This is not any different to seeing a show about the French Revolution (eg. Les Miserables), or about English history (eg. the movie “The Queen” or any Shakespear play), or any European language opera (Mozart's Magic Flute, or Rossini's Barber of Seville). The issue is are we as Vancouverites or Canadians, euro-centric in our cultural outlook? or are we global in our cultural outlook?
New Tang Dynasty TV takes a global perspective in addressing the role of the global Chinese diaspora with mission statements to:
– Foster understanding between Chinese people and Western societies
– Assist Chinese people outside China to adapt and integrate into mainstream society
– Provide viewers with accurate information to enrich their knowledge and lives
– Contribute to multiculturalism and free flow of information in the Chinese-language media.
There are Chinese people living all around the world – but they do not necessarily support the views or directions of the present government of the People's Republic of China – nor are they defined by the PRC. And the PRC, doesn't necessarily accept or acknowledge the views or philosophies of the many “overseas Chinese” around the world, and they have no “control” over them! But the constant that they and the rest of the people in the world share, is the long history and rich culture of China.
Below are some of the comments from the Press releases for the show:
The legendary New Tang Dynasty Television’s Chinese New Year Spectacular explodes with the sights and sounds of ancient China, with epic tales, mythical dragons, exciting drummers, and beautiful dances to celebrate the holidays with a spice of Asian culture!
Ranked # 7 on Billboard Magazine’s top 10 shows in Feb 2006!
—“Based on ticket sales for the 2006 show at Radio City Music Hall in New York”
Seniors and students 15% discount.
Group rates: Over 5 tickets, 10% off
Over 10 tickets 15% off
Over 20 tickets 20% off
Over 50 tickets 25% off
Group discount: Expires December 20
Do not miss this opportunity. call our Hotline: 604-628-1620 or Ticket Master 604-280-4444 to place your order.
Tickets: $30, $40, $50, $60, 80, 120VIP
Preview video: http://www.vancouverspectacular.com for Vancouver
Or: http://www.galantdtv.com for the worldwide view
“…a highly professional, well-thought out and beautifully produced presentation! This is not only entertainment, but a valuable cross-over cultural event: a strong, gracious gesture toward international understanding, in an all-too-troubled world.”
– Donn B. Murphy, Ph.D., President and Executive Director, The National Theatre, Washington
sponsored by CTV, Vancouver Sun, CBC and The Epoch Times
