The Chinese New Year Spectacular by Divine Performing Arts wrapped up the Ottawa leg of its 65-city world tour tonight, earning a standing ovation from a packed house at the National Arts Centre's Southam Hall. Sunday's sold-out performance also prompted a standing ovation.
"All you can get are good reports," enthused Marie-France Meloche, owner of a farm in Plantagenet, who came to the show for her birthday celebration. "It was ... it was very good."
"And the colours—the colours were very, very bright, but soft at the same time. Very exciting show!"
Did she see any meaning in the performance?
"Oh, definitely, definitely—trying to put peace back into the world. That was clear."
The Spectacular is a lavish display of authentic Chinese dance, music, and storytelling set against a state-of-the-art animated backdrop, accompanied by a full-sized orchestra that combines Western and Eastern instruments.
"It wasn't what I was expecting," commented Gaye Moffett, CEO of a private health care company, after the show. "I was expecting something like ... acrobats, whereas this was ballet, and gymnastics, and beautiful singing, and drum playing, so it was really quite a lot of fun."
Divine Performing Arts, based in New York, aims to present the "heart and soul of traditional Chinese culture," the program book explains, drawing from various ethnic groups and periods of China's 5,000-year history.
"The people on stage were very good at what they were doing," said Kenneth Ward, a retail worker studying security management. "... What stands out is some of the performances where it showed some of the hardships that China has had."
"The music was great; it was really well done," Ward commented. "... I found it interesting how they mixed the Western instruments with the Chinese instruments; I thought that was very well done."
Andrea Bazinet of Ottawa found it hard to choose a favourite performance, since "each one had its own magic. I can't say I like one more than the other since they're all different."
"I haven't seen a show like this before," commented Rachel Lane, "I really, really, thoroughly enjoyed it."
"I enjoyed it, very much," said Jim Beckett of Ottawa. "I liked the drums—they were great, they were incredible."
"The dancers were very smooth, the way they can walk across the stage, you know. You'd think they were on skates," he remarked.
Words of Praise
A long scroll at the reception desk collected audience members' comments—like a guest book, Chinese-style. Inscriptions left behind include:
Beautiful show
Please come againFabulous dancing!
Well done!
Awesome job
You are very special to me
Glad I came!Formidable performance
Very moving!
Wonderful performers
Peaceful, beautiful
Truly memorable!
Thank youEl mejor de los performances que he visto
(or, "The best performance I've ever seen")
The performers are continuing on to Montreal and Toronto before leaving for other countries. The Spectacular will come to Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton in April and May.
With additional reporting by Rahul Vaidyanath
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