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Photo Flash: First Look at Kung Fu Masters, Shaolin Warriors, Coming to Houston, 10/27
By: BWW News Desk Sep. 28, 2012
The kung fu masters known as the Shaolin Warriors are returning to Houston for two performances on Saturday, Oct. 27, at 3 and 7:30 p.m. in Wortham Center's Cullen Theater, presented by Society for the Performing Arts. BroadwayWorld has a first look below.
Geared for the entire family, their latest theatrical production, titled Voices of the Masters, showcases the remarkable skill and stunning movement that is a trademark of the Shaolin Warriors. Performed by the Buddhist monks of the Shaolin Temple, a sect that has become known throughout the world for its disciplined spiritualism and deadly martial-arts prowess, the production features many forms of Shaolin kung fu, as well as a look at the daily temple life of the monks and their Zen Buddhist philosophy. Having trained from a very young age in mental and physical disciplines, these kung fu masters perform feats one thought only possible in the movies.
For nearly 1500 years, the Shaolin Temple has been the heart and soul of Chinese kung fu. The Shaolin Monks were men of action ready to defend, yet men of peace ready to console. The monks train in martial arts for several hours every day, perfecting the art of hand-to-hand and weapons combat. Each monk is required to achieve an extraordinarily high level of proficiency in each of the Temple's 18 traditional weapons and to become a master of one.
However, it is the daily practice of seated meditation, which enables the individual performer to sustain a demanding physical regimen. Through a practice known as Ch'an (Chinese for Zen), they calm the body and focus the mind to a single collected point in order to attain a mental state known as Samadhi, or complete mental absorption. It is in this quiet, yet highly focused state of mind, that they are able to sustain extreme physical discomfort and pain and undergo the intense daily training required to achieve and maintain the level of adeptness for which they are so highly praised.
Tickets for the Shaolin Warriors range from $35-$70 and can be purchased online at www.spahouston.org, by phone at 713-227-4772 or at the courtyard level ticket office at Jones Hall located at 615 Louisiana St. Hours of operation: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday. For groups of 15 or more call 713-632-8113.
Founded in 1966, Society for the Performing Arts (SPA) is the largest independent non-profit presenting organization in the Southwest. Since its inception, SPA has sponsored more than 1,000 performances of the world's finest music, dance and theater events, in adherence to the belief that the arts are fundamental to the overall enrichment and quality of life within the community. In addition to presenting artists, SPA seeks to provide a variety of learning experiences for adults and children through master classes, lectures and special student performances, as well as build relationships between the performing arts and other interests within the greater Houston area and throughout the state of Texas.
Photos: Courtesy of Columbia Artists Management, Inc.
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