Tales of the Chinese Zodiac - Musical Dance Spectacular
“An ingenious and high-quality performance…colourful pageantry, stunning choreography and thought-provoking story-line” — Clarin, Argentina
China’s highly acclaimed musical dance show “Tales of the Chinese Zodiac” thrilled viewers at its Australian premiere brought to life by the China Oriental Performing Arts Group at Sydney’s State Theatre and Melbourne’s Palais Theatre on Nov 21-25, 2019.
The China Oriental Performing Arts Group includes a team of China’s finest musical and dance performers who represent the highest standard of music and dance arts in China. Having performed across China, they have also toured in five continents and more than seventy countries around the world.
A cast of fifty seasoned performers staged an exquisite production of colorful pageantry, stunning costumes, masterful choreography and vibrant music during their performance Tales of the Chinese Zodiac. The show featured a number of Chinese and Western percussion instruments such as the African djembe hand drum and the Cuban conga drums accompanied by a stunning synthesis of classical and modern Chinese dance. There was even an artful display of calligraphy, Peking Opera and martial arts during the show.
The 12 zodiac signs are a significant part of China’s ancient cultural heritage that originated when calendar years were identified based on different zodiac animal signs according to a 12-year cycle. It is believed that the Chinese zodiac signs bestow the individual characteristics of each animal onto those born in the corresponding year. Shen Chen, Director and choreographer of the performance, says "The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac represent the most important and symbolic part of traditional Chinese culture. I would like to show the circle of life, the circle of the four seasons and the circle of nature through dance and music."
Divided into four acts, the story follows the characteristics of the twelve most important historical periods of China that exhibit every zodiac animal's traits, such as the carefree ox roaming through wild pastures and the uninhibited spirit of the zodiac dragon.
