History In The Dance

Imagine watching history instead of reading it from a book. OK, so you do that when you turn on the History Channel. But what we're proposing here is REALLY watching history, in the form of ancient Chinese dance routines. "It transported me back in time, in a sense of a...

By Kimberly Thorpe

January 28, 2010

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Imagine watching history instead of reading it from a book. OK, so you do that when you turn on the History Channel. But what we're proposing here is REALLY watching history, in the form of ancient Chinese dance routines. "It transported me back in time, in a sense of a beautiful, wonderful, quintessential Chinese culture," wrote author and critic Dr. Cyril Dabydeen after watching Shen Yun Performing Arts, which returns to the Music Hall at Fair Park Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (2 and 7:30 p.m.). Chinese dance is an art form several thousand years old. While it sounds distant, the costumes and the performances bring the ancient to life. "The performances are inspired, the costumes and scenery enchanting, and the show as a whole a delight to experience," Philadelphia Weekly says. So, if you prefer to watch performers retell ancient legends about long-ago heroes and something called chivalry through dance, rather than read it in a story book, here's your chance. Tickets are $30 to $120. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Fri., Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Feb. 6, 2 & 7:30 p.m., 2010

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