Chinese New Year Carnival depicts country's cultural richness and beauty
Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Jill HudsonEMC Entertainment - It's a New Year's celebration like no other.
Last Wednesday, Feb. 8, local audiences were treated to all the culture, pageantry, death-defying acrobatics, inspiring music and colourful costumes as they helped usher in the Year of the Dragon at the Brockville Arts Centre.
The Chinese New Year celebration presented cultural treasures from regions across the culturally-diverse nation, featuring 80 top-level artists and entertainers with the China National Performing Arts troupe - some of whom have won international awards.
Rudy Gao, President of the Canada China Cultural Development Association compared Canada's diverse multiculturalism to China's diversity of cultures. He explained there are several minorities in the country which have their own culture. "We bring Chinese culture - especially this year - Year of the Dragon. That means a lot for the Chinese."
A silk embroidered tapestry provided the backdrop for the evening. Promotional material about the event describes it as, "The magnificent history of Ancient China will be told through music, dance and visual performances featuring magicians, dancers, singers, acrobats and more, making this event spectacular entertainment for the whole family. Magnificent staging and exquisite costumes are a feast for the eyes."
The show opened with "The Grace of Chinese Culture" which displayed the richness of textiles, culture and grace of extraordinary dancers, breeze amid bamboo followed. After that, glass-balancing contortion acrobats twisted their bodies while balancing towers of wine glasses on their foreheads, hands or feet.
The White Lotus Dance was an example of Chinese modern dance. It depicts the sunlit white lotus which has already bloomed with buds blossoming before the audience's eyes.
Those who attended enjoyed the pageantry, awe-inspiring acrobatics, an entertaining magical show performed by Wei Yi who has packed theatres in the United States and Europe.
Magnificent Chinese folk music also filled the hall. The A'xi Dance is traditional instrumental music performed on the erhu, pipa, sheng and flute which gives the audience insight into Chinese music. The Brockville audience gave the musicians a standing ovation part way through the performance.
Colourful costumes added to the evening. The show also included a celebration of Chinese painting and writing.
One favourite part of the evening was the Sichuan Acrobatics performed by Mou Qiang and Yang Gang. Their acrobatics combined the grace of gymnastics with strength, flexibility and technical precision. These acrobats won top awards at the 29th International Circus Festival of Tomorrow in France, fifth world circus festival in Russia and the second China National Acrobatics Competition. The crowd reacted with the occasional gasp during this performance - with good reason - many of their acrobatics were performed high in the air.
Return engagement
The tour group remembered how well Brockville received them last year and made a special point of returning.
"It was a really welcome audience, Brockville," said Gao. "This year we bring different pieces. I believe from the feedback from the audiences - they love it. Especially with the acrobats this time - high quality."
What made the evening more special was a group of Chinese exchange students who attended the performance from Smiths Falls. They enjoyed the performance and their trip - which has included ice skating, a trip to the Parliament Buildings, a Jr. A Bears hockey game and Winter Carnival.
Judy, one of the exchange students, particularly enjoyed the performance. "I think they are very fantastic. I am glad to see our country's culture can show here."
She said she has been enjoying her trip and had her first skating lesson.
Another Chinese exchange student whose Canadian name is Jack is also enjoying his cultural exchange trip. "I like this trip. I have learned many English words."
The evening's masters of ceremonies were Jiang Ping, a national performer, film and drama director and famous host, and Jiang Xioahan who was a high-profile child star and born into a family that embraces the arts. Her father, Jiang Han, was a musician who later founded the Great Tibetan Art Company. They described the significance of each act and art form throughout the evening.
Han explained to the EMC after the show the importance of letting the exchange students watch the performance.
"For Chinese audiences here - it is very important that Chinese people studying and working in Canada see shows like this. They would be amazed as well. I feel it's the art form from their home town."
She said that she is glad the audience enjoyed the show.
"We are happy people enjoyed it. It is a very good opportunity for us to show the top level of Chinese art. I think it's a very good communication for Canadian audiences and Chinese artists and I hope we can do more shows like this in the future."
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