A portion of the acclaimed spectacle seen by the world at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is coming to Tamaqua in two weeks, where it will be presented free to the public. 

'Silk Road, Flower Rain,' the world-famous dance drama from the People's Republic of China, will take the stage of the Tamaqua Area Auditorium on Friday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m., in a special international cultural ambassadorship performance. 

Residents of the Carbon-Schuylkill area might want to compare this showcase of culture with the breathtaking presentation in Tamaqua of 'Colorful China,' on Nov. 4, 2010. That show stopped in the Schuylkill County community as part of a U. S. visit of a Cultural Exchange visa. Featuring 51 Chinese nationals and showcasing the culture of the most populated nation on earth, it took the town by storm, performing to an extended standing ovation. 

"The Silk Road performance has been made possible by World Artists Experiences (WAE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridge cultures and promote understanding through the arts. I consider it an honor to be part of this organization," says Tamaqua native June Krell-Salgado, a catalyst in making the local event possible. 

Krell-Salgado is a graduate of Tamaqua Area High School and serves as cultural affairs director at the University of Salisbury, Salisbury, Md. In that capacity, she has been able to play a key role in securing world-class entertainment for her hometown region two years running. 

The classic dance drama 'Silk Road, Flower Rain' was created by Gansu Song and Dance Theater with the world-renowned Dunhuang frescoes and the Silk Road as its materials, and peace and friendship as its theme. 

The production successfully moves the magnificent Dunhuang frescoes onto the stage through a story of friendship and love. Reviewers say it presents the richness of Dunhuang culture, extolling the glorious working people who generated the Dunhuang culture. It narrates a tear-driving story of long-lasting friendship between Chinese people and people from abroad. 

It has been put on stage in more than 20 countries and regions including North Korea, France, Italy, Japan, Thailand, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Spain, Turkey, Hong Kong, and Macao. It is regarded as the role model of China folk dance drama.