Jian Ping's column
Happy New Year, again
Happy New Year, again
By Jian Ping
The Year of the Tiger in the Chinese lunar calendar starts on February 14 in 2010. The traditional
celebration for Chinese New Year begins on the first day with a new moon and finishes on the 15th of the
month, known as the Lantern Festival, when the moon is full. So, here we go again: Happy New Year.
There are many good attributes ascribed to the year of the tiger and the people who are born in this
zodiac cycle. Brave, independent, and protective are part of tiger’s good qualities, and ferocious,
instinctive, and dominating, are traits that can be positive in certain circumstances. At a time when we
continue to battle the economic recession, especially the high unemployment that has impacted many
families, we need to embrace the tiger’s ferocity and strength. Meanwhile, we should also take upon
some of tiger’s other characteristics — gracious, optimistic, and seeking excitement — to make a good
start of a New Year. A fair dose of optimism, upbeat spirit, and fun is always beneficial under any
circumstances.
It was precisely in this spirit that I recently attended a performance at the Auditorium Theatre in
Chicago. The show, presented by a large group of more than 70 artists from the China Broadcasting
Performing Arts Troupe (CBPAT), a premier performing troupe in China, was for the celebration of the
upcoming Chinese New Year. The group had performed in Vancouver and Ottawa in Canada and was
The Year of the Tiger in the Chinese lunar calendar starts on February 14 in 2010. The traditional
celebration for Chinese New Year begins on the first day with a new moon and finishes on the 15th of the
month, known as the Lantern Festival, when the moon is full. So, here we go again: Happy New Year.
There are many good attributes ascribed to the year of the tiger and the people who are born in this
zodiac cycle. Brave, independent, and protective are part of tiger’s good qualities, and ferocious,
instinctive, and dominating, are traits that can be positive in certain circumstances. At a time when we
continue to battle the economic recession, especially the high unemployment that has impacted many
families, we need to embrace the tiger’s ferocity and strength. Meanwhile, we should also take upon
some of tiger’s other characteristics — gracious, optimistic, and seeking excitement — to make a good
start of a New Year. A fair dose of optimism, upbeat spirit, and fun is always beneficial under any
circumstances.
It was precisely in this spirit that I recently attended a performance at the Auditorium Theatre in
Chicago. The show, presented by a large group of more than 70 artists from the China Broadcasting
Performing Arts Troupe (CBPAT), a premier performing troupe in China, was for the celebration of the
upcoming Chinese New Year. The group had performed in Vancouver and Ottawa in Canada and was
scheduled to give performances in Chicago, Denver, St. Paul and Seattle in the United
States.
Over the last decade, I had been to five or six performances conducted by artists from
all over China. The shows were entertaining and in many ways, brought the festive spirit
of the Chinese New Year, the most celebrated holiday in China. But compared to the
performances I had seen in China, these shows fell far short in artistic quality. I often
wonder why the best troupes do not get their chance to go abroad to perform.
That Saturday, I arrived at the overcrowded Auditorium, not knowing what to expect.
Due to a reception at the theatre earlier, the doors to public admission opened late. In the
terribly cold weather, people squeezed together in front of the entrance. The packed,
somewhat chaotic scene, reminded me of a crowded train station in China.
Once inside, however, the feeling immediately changed. I breathed in the warm air and
watched the crowd disperse into different aisles with a sense of relief. The real pleasant
surprises, however, came with the start of the performance. First of all, the two emcees:
Ms Wang Lu and Mr. Zhang Cheng, brought a lively introduction to the audience with their
perfect command of both Chinese and English languages. The astonishing performances
that followed lived up to every bit of their descriptions. The program offered a broad range
of songs, music, and dances that fused the rich Chinese culture and ethnic diversities on
the stage.
I was totally swept away. My favorites of the evening include the male solo, “In That
Distant Place,” a popular folk song from Xinjiang Uygur. Singer Amuti Rouzi, an Uygur, had
the most amazing voice. The “Dynamic Hula-Hoop” performed by Jin Linlin, the Guinness
world record holder who could swirl 300 hula-hoops around her small body like a moving
statue. Her performance was simply incredible and breathtaking. The “Modern Soft
Acrobats” by Liu Jiayin and Bai Chunpu demonstrated how the human forms could be
pushed to the limits. And the “Qinghai-Tibet Plateau” song, performed by the Snow Lotus
Three Sisters from Tibet, was superb. Of course, the demonstration of Chinese calligraphy
and traditional painting, accompanied with music played on traditional Chinese
instruments and dance, was also eye-opening. Overall, the artists brought elegance,
delight, and awe to the audience.
I enjoyed the performance so much that I searched for more celebration activities in
the Chicago area for the Chinese New Year. A dance performance at the Harris Theatre on
January 22 and 23 caught my attention. It was presented by the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre
of Taiwan, a leading contemporary dance company in Asia. Their dance has been lauded
for its “innovation, grace and extreme physical fluidity.” I marked my calendar to attend it.
I’ve also learned that there will be a Chinese New Year celebration with lion dance, choral
groups, folk dancers, traditional music and puppetry in the Chrystal Garden at Navy Pier
on February 14. The annual Chicago Chinatown New Year Parade, which usually draws
more than 20,000 people, is also scheduled on Sunday, February 14 this year.
Wisconsin is Chicago’s next-door neighbor. Hope some of you will be able to make it to
the windy city to enjoy the celebration of the Chinese New Year.
Happy Year of the Tiger!
Jian Ping is a consultant and author of "Mulberry Child: a Memoir of China." Visit www.
moraquest.com for more information or
www.smearedtype.com for her blog.
States.
Over the last decade, I had been to five or six performances conducted by artists from
all over China. The shows were entertaining and in many ways, brought the festive spirit
of the Chinese New Year, the most celebrated holiday in China. But compared to the
performances I had seen in China, these shows fell far short in artistic quality. I often
wonder why the best troupes do not get their chance to go abroad to perform.
That Saturday, I arrived at the overcrowded Auditorium, not knowing what to expect.
Due to a reception at the theatre earlier, the doors to public admission opened late. In the
terribly cold weather, people squeezed together in front of the entrance. The packed,
somewhat chaotic scene, reminded me of a crowded train station in China.
Once inside, however, the feeling immediately changed. I breathed in the warm air and
watched the crowd disperse into different aisles with a sense of relief. The real pleasant
surprises, however, came with the start of the performance. First of all, the two emcees:
Ms Wang Lu and Mr. Zhang Cheng, brought a lively introduction to the audience with their
perfect command of both Chinese and English languages. The astonishing performances
that followed lived up to every bit of their descriptions. The program offered a broad range
of songs, music, and dances that fused the rich Chinese culture and ethnic diversities on
the stage.
I was totally swept away. My favorites of the evening include the male solo, “In That
Distant Place,” a popular folk song from Xinjiang Uygur. Singer Amuti Rouzi, an Uygur, had
the most amazing voice. The “Dynamic Hula-Hoop” performed by Jin Linlin, the Guinness
world record holder who could swirl 300 hula-hoops around her small body like a moving
statue. Her performance was simply incredible and breathtaking. The “Modern Soft
Acrobats” by Liu Jiayin and Bai Chunpu demonstrated how the human forms could be
pushed to the limits. And the “Qinghai-Tibet Plateau” song, performed by the Snow Lotus
Three Sisters from Tibet, was superb. Of course, the demonstration of Chinese calligraphy
and traditional painting, accompanied with music played on traditional Chinese
instruments and dance, was also eye-opening. Overall, the artists brought elegance,
delight, and awe to the audience.
I enjoyed the performance so much that I searched for more celebration activities in
the Chicago area for the Chinese New Year. A dance performance at the Harris Theatre on
January 22 and 23 caught my attention. It was presented by the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre
of Taiwan, a leading contemporary dance company in Asia. Their dance has been lauded
for its “innovation, grace and extreme physical fluidity.” I marked my calendar to attend it.
I’ve also learned that there will be a Chinese New Year celebration with lion dance, choral
groups, folk dancers, traditional music and puppetry in the Chrystal Garden at Navy Pier
on February 14. The annual Chicago Chinatown New Year Parade, which usually draws
more than 20,000 people, is also scheduled on Sunday, February 14 this year.
Wisconsin is Chicago’s next-door neighbor. Hope some of you will be able to make it to
the windy city to enjoy the celebration of the Chinese New Year.
Happy Year of the Tiger!
Jian Ping is a consultant and author of "Mulberry Child: a Memoir of China." Visit www.
moraquest.com for more information or
www.smearedtype.com for her blog.
| (From top right) The “Modern Soft Acrobats” by Liu Jiayin and Bai Chunpu demonstrate how the human forms could be pushed to the limits; Dance-Song of Harmony; and Jin Linlin performs “Dynamic Hula- Hoop.” |
| Jian Ping |