Join Universal Studios and the Beijing Tourism Administration in ringing in ?The Year of the Pig? this Saturday, March 3rd. Hundreds of Beijing-based dancers, acrobats, stilt walkers, singers and artists will celebrate the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival in a festive observance of the Lunar New Year from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.
The extravaganza will feature nearly 200 colorful performers to entertain guests in a visually spectacular display of over 15 performances symbolic of such traditional Chinese cultural values as ?Harmonious Family,? ?Harmonious Society? and ?Harmonious World.?
Highlights of the Universal Studios Hollywood?s Chinese Lantern Festival will include performances by The Beijing Opera Troupe, the stilt-mounted dancers of The Beijing District Stilt Performers, the intricately designed ?Floating Forbidden City? costumes of the Xiao Dan Art Performing Group, and the young artists of the Blue Sky Kindergarten Chorale singing ?Hello, Los Angeles.?
In addition, the Beijing Xicheng Children?s Palace will perform signature dances from the Beijing Opera Dance Company, and middle school students from the Beijing Normal University will demonstrate traditional Chinese folk dance using symbolic red ribbons to ward off evil spirits that may appear during the New Year?s Eve celebration. ?Beijing Art School students, dressed in ethnically-inspired costumes, will perform the ?Minority Nationality Dance? and dancers from Beijing?s Chaoyang District will perform a traditional Fan Dance.
Another central component of the event is an appearance by ?Fuwa,? the Five Olympic Ring Mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. ?Carrying a message of friendship and peace from China to children throughout the world and representing the colors of the Olympic Rings, the ?Fuwa? display employs young performers to embody the characteristics of China?s four most popular animals: ?Fish, Panda, Tibetan Antelope and Swallow, as well as a ?Fuwa?-inspired Olympic Flame.
Following the theme park performances, a procession of folk artists will parade through Universal CityWalk. Cost of the event is included in the price of admission to Universal Studios Hollywood.
More information and online ticket purchases can be made at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com
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