December 13, 2007

It's easy to understand why joining the circus might be a schoolchild's fantasy: It means entertaining audiences with vibrant, daring displays. It means leaving mundane life behind and getting to see the world.

For 16-year-old Forest Hills resident Alina Wang, it means daily reality. But instead of the circus, Wang joined the Divine Performing Arts Troupe, a New York-based group of high school and college-age dancers and musicians trained in the Chinese classical tradition.

This month, in cooperation with Chinese language network New Tang Dynasty Television, the group will present their "Holiday Wonders" show at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan and a "Chinese New Year Spectacular" at Radio City Music Hall. They'll then embark on a world tour encompassing 150 shows in 50 cities.

"People train all their lives and they might not even get this chance," said Wang, whose dance commitments leave her with little free time. A year and a half ago, she left her local school, J.H.S. 190 in Forest Hills, to enroll at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts upstate. But she doesn't regret any sacrifices. Instead of hanging out or catching movies, she said, "I'm doing something much more meaningful, something I never imagined."

Even before joining Divine Performing Arts, Wang had taken some big leaps in life. Born in Peru, she moved to the United States in 2004, but didn't need to take language training classes, because she'd already learned both English and Spanish at her former school. Nevertheless, Wang had grown accustomed to being a minority in South America, and was stunned by the diversity of her new environment in Queens. Here, she had the opportunity to pursue Chinese dancing.

Upon first joining Divine Performing Arts, Wang had no idea how successful the group would become, let alone imagine that largescale tours were in store. But in 2006, the show hit cities across North America. Last year, it traveled to Europe, Australia, Japan, Taiwan and Korea. This year's tour will be the biggest yet.

The performers' schedule is grueling. Besides traveling from continent to continent, they must help with set up, practice in the mornings and do schoolwork in the afternoons. Many of the techniques -- hands-free cartwheels, for example -- are risky. Others are simply nerve-wracking. Wang described one scene in which 30 girls spin handkerchiefs simultaneously: "You have no control whatsoever over your handkerchief, you don't know when you might just drop it, and the spotlight is on you."

Still, the very spotlight that creates such pressure can also provide the strength to continue. "When the lights are on you," Wang said, "you just want to show the best to the audience."

The idea of the show is to spread awareness of Chinese culture in a way that's fun and entertaining, said Rong Pei, production manager for the "Holiday Wonders" show. "More and more, Westerners are fascinated by Chinese culture," he said. The show tries to cultivate this interest with myths, dances and costumes from different regions and dynasties. It also incorporates Western holiday traditions, like a brass ensemble.

Yet, the show treads across unfamiliar cultural terrain, even for some of Chinese descent. Like many children of immigrants, Wang said she "wasn't very connected" to her Chinese roots until she joined the troupe.

Another dancer, Shirley Dai, 21, moved to California from China at age 9, and she has not returned since. "I didn't really know too much of the Chinese culture and tradition," said Dai, who now lives in Woodside.

"Holiday Wonders" tries to save Chinese culture from the realm of stereotypes, even those purveyed by Disney. For instance, one act recounts the legend of Mulan quite differently from the 1998 animated movie it inspired.

The stories all have morals, but Dai said the show's appeal is its ability to transport the audience. "Once the backdrop hits the screen, and you hear the music and see the lights, she said, "you just feel like you're drawn into that period in China."

"Holiday Wonders" runs every day from Dec. 18- 26 at the Beacon Theater, located at 21-24 Broadway in Manhattan. Show times and ticket prices vary.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call (212) 695-7469 or visit www.holidaywonders.net.

Source http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19111861&BRD=2731&PAG=461&dept_id=576260&rfi=6