Chinese Dances & Instruments At NHS, Saturday Afternoon

A rare opportunity to see a variety of beautifully costumed Chinese dances and hear original Chinese instruments will take place on Saturday, December 5, at 2 pm, at Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road. The dances and music originate from many regions of China and will be performed by Phoenix Performing Arts.

The unique program re-creates China’s multi-ethnic dances such as the Dai Peacock dance, Xinjiang dance “Harvest Time”, Tibetan dance “Road to Heaven” and Yi dance “Colorful Clouds.” Samples of China’s folk music will be played on classic Chinese musical instruments such as a bamboo flute, a gourd flute, the stringed Erhu, and the percussion instrument, guzheng.

Phoenix Performing Arts is a non-profit organization devoted to the cultural arts of China, founded by a group of volunteers in western Connecticut in early 2008. Members are dedicated to promoting greater understanding and appreciation for the diversity of China’s many ethnicities and cultures through dance and music in order to enrich their community and their own lives.

Although their primary occupations are in the sciences, Phoenix members receive professional training and in the past year, they have performed at several events, including Peace Corps fund raising and Danbury multicultural festival.

Tickets are $10 at the door or $8 in advance, $7 for seniors, and $5 children.

To purchase tickets in advance, more information or directions to Newtown High School, call 203-206-7671 or write phoenix.performing.arts@gmail.com.