Waterloo Mayor Says Spectacular Among 'Best Shows I've Ever Seen'

TORONTO—Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran gushed with praise after seeing Divine Performing Arts' Chinese New Year Spectacular in Toronto's Sony Centre last night.

"It's absolutely breathtakingly beautiful," she said.

"I don't think I've ever seen anything quite as beautiful as this show. The colours of the costumes and the music are just incredible, and the movements of the dancers. I think it's probably one of the best shows I've ever seen.... It's absolutely beautiful."

Halloran described the classical Chinese dancing in the show as more relaxing and soothing than the slightly more aggressive Western dancing most Canadians are familiar with.

"It has a beauty to it that just makes you feel that you can't wait for the next dancers to come out. You're always waiting in anticipation for what is coming next."

Halloran said the Spectacular held her fixated the whole way through with the colourful costumes and flowing imagery of the performances.

"It's truly magnificent."

The mayor also said she was particularly impressed with one dance about two young hoodlums who make a turn for the better.

"That really struck me because I think it's very important for young people to have respect and to believe in dignity and kindness. So that one I really liked the best."

Major themes throughout the dances emphasize the importance of morality and moral traditions. These themes and dances are enhanced by a combination of Chinese and western orchestral music and unique state-of-the art digital backdrops.

"It's incredible," said Halloran referring to the backdrops. "I've never seen anything like it...It's very subtle and beautiful.

Halloran said she is already considering inviting the Spectacular to Waterloo which is a twin city with Kitchener. She expects the cities' large Chinese communities would appreciate the show and fill the Centre in the Square arts centre.

"This would be a wonderful performance there," she said. " It would be beautiful."

"I've never had any exposure to Chinese dance except what you see on TV, but the magnitude of this I've never seen before. I think they are very fortunate here to have this show in Toronto and I feel very fortunate to be here tonight and to have this as a memory for the rest of my life."

"I am so proud to have been invited by New Tang Dynasty Television and I appreciate this opportunity to see Chinese dance and to experience the Chinese culture of 5000 years. What an honour for me."

Through the Spectacular, the Divine Performing Arts dance company has been spurring the beginnings of a renaissance of traditional culture in the Chinese art community, say organizers.

After Toronto, Divine Performing Arts will take its Spectacular to shows in the U.S. , Asia, Europe and Oceania before returning to Canada to perform in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton next spring.

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.