Beautiful, vibrant Chinese Dragons gallivanting across the stage, the original China maids with their multi-colored, vivacious traditional garb dancing, laughing and in anticipation for the Chinese New Year. The splendor of China is arriving to New York City.

This is entertainment at its best --colorful and uplifting fare that will put a smile on everyone’s face. And from Berlin to Tokyo, Paris to Philadelphia, New York to Sydney, people the world over will experience it first-hand, thanks to New Tang Dynasty Television’s Holiday wonders and Chinese New Year Splendor.

New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV), an international, non-profit television network based in New York City, is no stranger to putting on a magnificent show. 2008 marks the fifth year of its shows, which began in 2004 in only five cities worldwide, but rapidly expanded, playing over 40 international cities in 2007. In the upcoming year, over 200 performers will take part in the show in 60 cities worldwide.

NTDTV has made its name in the cultural world with these stunning showcases of authentic and traditional Chinese performing arts. In New York, its show ranked among Billboard Magazine’s top 10 shows in February 2006. In 2008, the show will be performed at such distinguished international venues as New York’s Radio City Music Hall and Los Angeles’s Kodak Theatre. NTDTV is also debuting a new show, Holiday Wonders, which will take place during the holiday season at the historic Beacon Theatre in New York City.

Their dedication to bringing back the lost arts of traditional Chinese culture to the modern stage is impressive. Much has been lost during recent Chinese history, and NTDTV, with its mission to foster understanding between people of Chinese and other cultures, has made an effort to bring these arts to a truly global audience. In effect, they have created the largest Chinese New Year event in the world --no other Chinese cultural show is produced on such an international scale. NTDTV’s Holiday Wonders and Chinese New Year Splendor is essentially an entirely new experience for its audience.

The show does not feature a running narrative like most modern-day performances in the West. Instead, the program presents a variety of dance, vocal, and instrumental performances that each stand on their own, but together also create an intriguing mix of flavors. This format is in keeping with the “song and dance” form that has been passed down for centuries in China, and it ensures there really will be something for everyone, much like a ten-course Chinese banquet.

The most striking parts of the program are the large-scale dances. It is quite a sight to see --row upon row of dancers moving together in a way that is disciplined but still fluid. In 2006, one of the audience favorites was “Plum Blossoms,” in which dancers used Chinese fans to portray the resilience of the tiny plum blossom, one of the most beloved Chinese flowers because of how they bloom in the cold of winter.

Some of the richest performances are in the form of “dance dramas” that depict the stuff of Chinese legends, with fairy maidens, brave warriors, and loyal souls. There are quite a few of these kinds of gentle reminders about virtues and honor running through this show, giving it more depth and soulfulness than perhaps one would initially expect.

One could say that every detail of NTDTV’s shows tend to be suffused with traditional Chinese culture--from the intricate, hand-worked costumes to the colorful, digitally projected backdrops. Many of these backdrops resemble Chinese ink-and-brush paintings, and dazzling effects are achieved when the screens are animated, depicting snowfall covering the countryside or clouds rolling across the sky.

NTDTV’s shows are a refreshing and generous addition to the cultural scene. They transport the audience to a different time and place, and leave them richer for the experience. Entertainment at its best, indeed.

About the Author

Daniel Tang is an independent writer covering cultural events and human rights issues and has an interest in preserving cultural and spiritual tradition. For more info about the NTDTV Chinese New Year Spectacular in your area, please visit: www.HolidayWonders.net www.BestChineseShows.com