A "White Hat Ceremony" at the Calgary Airport provided a unique welcome to the artistic force behind New Tang Dynasty (NTDTV) Television's much-anticipated Divine Performing Arts Chinese Spectacular on Sunday.
Delegates from Tourism Calgary presented white felt cowboy hats and honorary Calgary citizenships to six representatives of NTDTV's world-class production of traditional Chinese culture and art, set to play at the Northern and Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditoriums on May 14-16.
Those honoured include Joe Wang, president of NTDTV Canada; Rutang Chen, conductor of the touring Tian (heaven) Yin (sound) Orchestra; Ben Yang, global editorial director of The Epoch Times ; Peijiong Hsieh, Production Manager and pianist; Vera Sun, director of business development for NTDTV Canada, and Jeffrey Yang, a member of the Calgary coordinating committee.
"We are honoured to have the [Divine Performing Arts] in our backyard, and this is just a little token of our appreciation for them coming to see us and for including Calgary in their visit to North America," said Joe Connelly, VP of sales and marketing for Tourism Calgary.
The Divine Performing Arts have been touring since early January in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Their 34-city sell out tour of North America, Europe, and Asia wraps up in Alberta this week. Reviews of the show have been impressive, with audience members heaping praise on the show and many being moved to tears.
The Divine Performing Arts Chinese Spectacular is presented by NTDTV, a global non-profit, predominantly Chinese-language television network that serves the Chinese community overseas with an independent voice.
"Albertans can expect a feast of traditional Chinese culture, beautiful dances, very impressive vocalists and instruments, and a live orchestra. They can expect the best show," said Joe Wang, president of NTDTV Canada.
Through its dramatic performances of classical Chinese dance, the Divine Arts' program portrays traditional values such as compassion and respect for parents, and maintains an exceptionally refined level of beauty, harmony and grace throughout the show.
"The spectacular is especially well-received in Canada. It is very well-received not only among Chinese Canadians, but also among mainstream society. It is a show that everybody can connect to, and we are excited to bring it to Alberta," said Wang.
Jeffrey Yang of the Calgary coordinating committee said, "We believe this is the best show to enhance communication and cultural exchange among Chinese and Canadians."
According to Connelly, the white cowboy hat is an icon of Calgary's legendary hospitality, a tradition that goes back to 1948 when Don McKay, one of Tourism Calgary's first representatives, brought horses, bands, and white cowboy hats to a Grey Cup game in Toronto intending to turn it into a big party.
McKay presented the white felt hats to the mayor of Toronto and other VIPs, and the tradition caught on.
"It is a spectacular cultural experience and it is a group of very special people who are coming to share their culture with us, so this is a perfect example of how we like to give the white hat," remarked Corinne Wilkinson, also from Tourism Calgary.
"Opportunities like this, these types of shows, can leave a lasting image and more of an educational part—more than just a show. So this is what we look forward to in Calgary. We love hosting these types of cultural events," said Wilkinson.
Divine Performing Arts Chinese Spectacular will be holding performances in Calgary on May 14 and 15 at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium starting at 8 pm, and will wrap up its 2007 tour with a final performance in Edmonton on May 16 at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium starting at 7:30 pm.