The legend of Madame White Snake comes alive in Boston!

The legend of Madame White Snake is one of the most popular tales of China, with countless versions in folklore, literature, and drama. Madame White Snake, a classical transformation myth, is the story of a powerful white snake demon who transforms into a beautiful woman to experience love. As a legend connected to Hangzhou’s West Lake, it may have arisen as early as the seventh century. The thirteenth century saw the first literary versions, no doubt borrowed from professional storytellers in the streets of Hangzhou. It first appeared on stage in the fourteenth century, and the story is today one of the most often performed in Chinese opera.

On February 26, 28, and March 2, the world premiere of Madame White Snake, a new opera co-commissioned by Opera Boston and the Beijing Music Festival, will bring the legend to live on the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston, MA.  In October 2010, Madame White Snake will migrate to China for its international premiere at the Beijing Music Festival. Madame White Snake is set in Hangzhou, a sister city to Boston. Mayor Thomas M. Menino and The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events are working closely with Opera Boston to highlight this sister city connection as planning moves forward for the world premiere.

Cerise Lim Jacobs, Madame White Snake’s Chinese-American librettist, is the creative force behind this pioneering adaptation of the 1,000 year old Chinese legend. She was born in colonial Singapore into a traditional Chinese family. Madame White Snake is her first opera libretto.
Zhou Long, Madame White Snake’s China-born composer, is an internationally acclaimed Chinese-born composer.  This marks his first opera.
Ying Huang, Madame White Snake’s Chinese soprano, has generated an extraordinary level of critical acclaim.

For more information, visit http://www.operaboston.org

Over The Top Footwork : The Flamenco Dancers of Spain

Dancing has been an essential element in the Spanish culture. From simple birthday parties to social charity events, dancing can always be observed. There are numerous traditional Spanish dances such as the Sardana, Jota Aragonesa, Zambra, Bolero, Fandango, Paso doble, Muñeira that are still being practiced up to this day. But there is one Spanish dance that is the most famous of them all, the Flamenco. Even while watching TV shows such as ‘Dancing with the Stars’ or ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, you can see that many still choose to dance the Flamenco when it comes to performing classical dances; classical dances that reflect the culture of the place from where they originated.

Flamenco is definitely one of the Spanish dances that will surely grab your attention when it is performed. ‘Baile’, which is the vernacular term for Flamenco is a very famous dance throughout the country of Spain. It is characterized by impromptu movements in sync with the rhythmic guitar and the clapping by the audience of the ‘Bailaor’, the male dancer, and the ‘Bailaora’, the female dancer.

In retrospect, the Flamenco dance was at its peak between the years 1869 to 1910 and was most often than not performed at cafes and was traditionally done to audiences of no more than 20. Believed to be a combination of cultural dances from native Arabic, Sephardic, Islamic and Gypsy, its origins can actually be traced back to Andalusia, with Latin America and Cuba contributing to a big extent to form the Flamenco we know today.

In addition, different dances also have different attires attributed to them. With the Flamenco, male dancers usually don tuxedos colored in black or red with flexible trousers to facilitate freedom of movement, while the female dancers wear white or blue dresses with ruffles matched with high heeled shoes and usually have their long hair tied in a bun. Last but not the least, Flamenco would not be complete without the use of the ‘Castanets’, which is a percussion instrument designed to produce rattling or clicking sounds used in tune with the Flamenco beat.

Are you considering taking up lessons to learn and experience what dancing the Flamenco really feels like?  The Flamenco is a very exquisite dance that exhibits the spontaneity and intuitiveness of the people of Spain. Pure energy in harmony with the guitar and clapping beats is what the Flamenco dance is all about.