by Michael Douglas Carlin
Many would have advised against going head to head with Super Bowl
Sunday, the most popular game in America. But the Chinese were not convinced.
They picked the 2000 seat historic Saban Theater to open their event,
"Happy Chinese New Year, Charming Beijing." Many would have scoffed
that they would fill the theater but there wasn't an empty seat during what
will go down in history as one of the most memorable Super Bowls and one of the
most successful cultural exchanges between Beijing and Beverly Hills.
The evening event was filled with dignitaries from all walks of
life in Los Angeles and China as a cultural exchange to kick-off Beijing's bid
for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The lobby of the theater was filled with food,
drink, and the "Charming Beijing, Passionate Winter Olympics Photo
Exhibition" and the Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Exchange
Exhibition as well as a broadcasting exhibition of promotional films of Beijing
demonstrating the vision of Beijing hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics.
At 8 p.m. patrons of the arts gathered inside the theater to
witness over 40 high-level performers who delighted the Mayor of Beverly Hills,
the Consul General of China, and all of the invited guests to celebrate the
Chinese New Year and Beijing Culture. The event was hosted by the China
International Culture Association, The Beijing Association of Cultural
Exchanges, and the Beverly Hills Conference and Visitors Bureau. Among the high
level performers were representatives of Beijing's Opera, musicians, dance, and
acrobatics all arranged by the Beijing Performance and Arts Group.
“Charming Beijing, Passionate Winter Olympics” Photo Exhibition was
held in the elegant lobby of the Saban Theatre, and exhibited 60 beautiful
pieces captured in Beijing from world-renowned photographers.
The photo exhibition takes “Charming Beijing” and “Passionate
Winter Olympics” as the two main themes. “Charming Beijing” has three parts:
“Imperial City” capturing the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, the Summer
Palace and world cultural heritage and scenic spots to show the extent of
Beijing as a cultural city. “Urban Development” uses the pictures of the city’s
environment, the lives of the public, artistic performances, transport facilities
and international conferences to show Beijing’s new international appearance.
The “Fashion and Landmarks” photo section are all photos from American Joe
McNally. Fashionable models wearing Chinese clothes, taking Beijing’s landmarks
as a background, bringing a perceptive banquet of the beauty of fashion and
history to the audience.
“Passionate Winter Olympics” primarily exhibited photos on
China’s road to the Olympiad in association with Los Angeles. In 1932, Liu
Changchun (1909–1983), China’s first Olympian participated in the 10th Los
Angeles Olympic Games. In 1984, China sent the first large delegation to attend
the 23rd Los Angeles Olympics. In January, 2008, a Chinese float themed the
“One World, One Dream” passed through Colorado Boulevard during the 119th Rose
Parade in Pasadena, marking the upcoming 29th Beijing Olympics. At the same
time it showed the deep-rooted Olympic spirit in the hearts of Beijing’s
residents, residents getting enjoyment from snow and ice during winter in
Beijing, and explaining the ideas and practices to bid for the 2022 Winter
Olympics.
At the event, inheritors of intangible cultural heritage from
Beijing brought clay Tu’er Ye figurines, Maohou, Yu-Family Kites and cloth
paste paintings. These intangible cultural heritage items from Beijing were
displayed, and opened exchange with local residents.
Founded in May 2009, Beijing Performance & Arts Group (BPA)
is a large state-owned enterprise directly supervised by Beijing Municipal
Government. Since its establishment, the Group has been stepping toward a
leading and influential cultural enterprise in Beijing. Currently, the Group
consists of 17 member enterprises.
BPA successfully planned and hosted the gala “Tian’anmen” at the
National Indoor Stadium, opera “Turandot” in Bird’s Nest (National Stadium),
Andrea Bocelli Concert, “China’s Three Tenors” global tour, stage play
“Four Generations under One Roof,” “Wonderful Harmony” Ding Yi and Hayley World
Tour Concert, “Chinese Story—Lights from Himalaya” Ye Xiaogang Concert, 5D
musical “The Feast of the Princess” and APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting Variety
Show, INTOSAI night, Sarah Brightman Solo Concer, Leehom music-man Solo
Concert, Korean superstar Lee Minho Solo Concert. The member enterprises also
produced original, exquisite art works, including acrobatic show and “Dream of
Golden Clown,” dance drama “Nuwa” (a goddess in Chinese mythology), real-life
children’s drama “A Flying Dream,” animated puppet drama “Monkey King’s
Adventures in the East Sea.” These works have won awards both at home and
abroad, including “Five ‘One’ Project Award” by the Propaganda Department of
the Central Committee of the CPC, “The National Drama Wenhua Award” by Ministry
of Culture, “Top 10 Dramas of National Stage Art Quality Project,” “The Special
Jury Prize” of China Gold Record Award, “The President’s Award” at Tomorrow
International Acrobatics Festival in France and “Golden Clown Awards” at
International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo.
The Group has been awarded “Top 30 Cultural Enterprises of
China” for three times, “Top 10 Influential (life & economy) Enterprises of
Beijing”, “Top 10 Art Performance Institution”, and “Top 3 Art Performance
Group in China,” “Top 500 Asian Brands,” “Top 500 China’s Brand Enterprise,”
etc. It has won high praise from all sectors of society at home and abroad.
