Being Chinese in heritage, it was only natural that I watch the the annual CCTV New Year’s Gala with my family come Chinese New Year. In a nutshell, the New Year’s Gala is a ginormous compilation of Chinese art, dance, acrobatics, song, and comedy (with the occasional foreign act – this year there was a Russian ballet). An enormous amount of effort, time and money go into it, and each year it never fails to impress and bedazzle me. This year, one of the performances that really stood out was a dance entitled the “Love of the Peacocks.” Yang Liping, the female dancer in this act, is one of the foremost folk dancers in China at the age of 54. She has studied the movements of the peacock for decades, and together with her partner, they have created a beautiful, ethereal piece where the movements of the two dancers ripple and flow like wind across the water. The soft, lush lighting of the stage further encapsulates this almost supernatural atmosphere, transporting the viewers into a strange and mysterious world. It’s a wonderful piece of art, and don’t be surprised if chills run down your back as you watch. Enjoy!
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