Chinese-Canadian Leader Discovers Culture at Chinese Spectacular

What inspired Colleen Hua to the Chinese New Year Spectacular after taking in last year's show in Toronto?

"I think it's an opportunity to really see the art and culture of the Chinese community and the historical culture here in Toronto," says Hua, who is president of the Chinese Canadian National Council, Canada's leading nationwide Chinese organization. "It's an opportunity that you don't have that often."

And Hua was pleased with what she saw.

"It's not that last year's performance wasn't good, but this year was really really good. The dancing was fantastic. It was choreographed very well, everyone was very together, the costumes were beautiful, and there were some unique dances this year that I really enjoyed."

Hua was particularly impressed by the male dancers in the show.

"The men drumming was really nice; I really enjoyed that," she said. "Traditionally when we look at Chinese culture and dance, it's always women dancing and the guys do Kung Fu. It's very nice to see the men doing some dance.

Hua says she was mesmerized by the digital backdrops of "picturesque scenes that just look real" as well as by the piano solo in the second act. But beyond the artistic merit of the show, Hua found it helped her better understand and appreciate Chinese culture.

"There was some history in there as well as some of the modern-day struggle that people are experiencing in China, specifically the Falun Gong practitioners," she said.

"It talked about some of the history – the Buddhist culture, Taoism, and some of the common themes that run through Chinese culture and Chinese historical practices, religious practices, and spiritual practices that have been before but now have been sort of lost. I think it was very educational in that sense to see all the different influences and changes that Chinese culture has gone through over the years."

Impressed by how Divine Performing Arts' Chinese New Year Spectacular has continued to grow and improve, Hua is looking forward to next year's show.

"I just appreciated the diversity in the performances – it wasn't all traditional dance but it wasn't all modern. And it wasn't all just about one message. It was different kinds of messages that all came together nicely.

"I look forward to seeing what they can do next year. "

Colleen Hua attended the Toronto debut of the Spectacular on Friday night at a packed Sony Centre, one of city's top cultural venues. The audience appeared engrossed in the show, with frequent raptures of applause. An ovation sustained throughout the curtain call, with many rising to show their appreciation. Friday's performance was the first of five shows in Toronto and one of twenty shows in Canada.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of the Divine Performing Arts shows that will perform in over 60 cities worldwide in 2008. To find a show near you, please visit www.bestchineseshows.com.