NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.—Despite temperatures of 20 degrees below zero, New Brunswick’s State Theater filled to capacity for the opening night of the Divine Performing Arts Chinese New Year Spectacular on Saturday, Jan. 24.
The orchestral level and upper mezzanine floor sat 1,800 patrons, who applauded heartily during the performance. Many expressed excitement about the show—the sumptuous display of traditional Chinese culture, coupled with a live orchestra and a state-of-the-art digital backdrop. Many were moved to tears.
Ms. Martinez, a dance professor who teaches modern jazz and ballroom at a local university, said, “The program is wonderful, it’s beautiful, rich, enlightening.”
She said that the “costumes, backgrounds, and the choreography are all excellent.”
“The dancers have a lot of energy and are exciting to see, I really enjoyed it. I’m going to share with my family and friends, and people at work, that they should come and see the show.”
“The dancers all look well-trained. ... It’s amazing, they all just look so beautiful, and they look like they just have a lot of energy,” said the dance professor.
The Divine Performing Arts has, at its heart, a desire to rediscover and renew humanity’s true cultural heritage through classical Chinese dance and music—in gloriously colorful and exhilarating shows.
An art form that is millennia old, Chinese classical dance is dynamic and expressive, bringing ancient legends and heroic figures to life through leaps, spins, and delicate gestures.
A Visual Feast
Ms. Lewis, a local artist and teacher, was inspired by the visual effects: “This is just so enthralling for me to see the colors and the costumes, the dancing and the music. Everything is so well integrated—it’s really exciting.
“It’s my first exposure to the Chinese New Year, and I’m very excited to be here. It’s an absolutely beautiful performance.”
Sharing the True Chinese Culture
China’s vast land is home to dozens of distinctive ethnic groups and folk traditions. Taking inspiration from heroic deeds of the past and courageous tales of modern times, each performance brings together a profoundly moving mix of past and present.
Mr. Faison, a clinical trial manager and musician who plays the saxophone, said the show was great.
“The music was great, the costumes, the dance, everything was really well-put-together,” he said. “It was actually pretty educational too because I got to learn a lot about the culture and history, so it was really nice.”
“It was something I didn’t really know about China, so it was interesting. It’s not something we really think about in the western culture ... so it was really interesting to see that perspective. I think it was very educational,” he said.
Please see DivinePerformingArts.org for more information.
