US to launch biggest Chinese arts festival
Showbiz Desk

WASHINGTON—The single largest celebration of Chinese performing arts in American history will be launched next week as artistes from China showcase their deep rooted culture in Washington, organizers said. From opera to orchestra, fireworks to fashion, Americans will explore all that makes China unique, said the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, which will host the “Festival of China” throughout October.
The event, held in cooperation with the Chinese government, will involve 900 talented Chinese musicians, dancers, puppeteers, actors, directors, choreographers and acrobats. Organizers believe the cultural extravaganza can help Americans and Chinese understand each other better, especially at a time when the two powers are suspicious about the others intentions.
China is often portrayed by US leaders and lawmakers as a military threat, frequent flouter of global trading rules and an opponent of democracy and human rights. The United States also sees China’s growing political, economic and military might with suspicion.
“It is very important for people all over the world to understand each other and what better way of learning about people than through art,” Michael Kaiser, president of the Kennedy Centre, said Friday. “When Americans watch the performances, they would be able to appreciate and understand the hopes and dreams of the Chinese people and this helps in the process of building peace,” Kaiser told AFP.
He said there would be a well diversified display of both traditional and contemporay art by the troupes from China, which boasts more than 50 ethnic groups and 1,500 dialects. The groups include the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the origin of symphonic music in China, and the National Ballet of China, which fuses exquisite ballet technique with Chinese tradition into what has been called “a true synthesis of Eastern and Western culture.”