Traditional Chinese opera is a distinctive and comprehensive performing art that combines Chinese music, singing, dialogue, pantomime, acrobatics and martial arts. It represents the culmination and distillation of more than two thousand years of Chinese civilization. There are more than 300 different forms of opera throughout China. Each variety takes its name from the place where it originated and is popular. The presentation includes video clips from Kinqu, Beijing, and Yue style operas and will focus on the Chinese approach to character roles, music, orchestra, stage scenery, consumes, and acting with comparisons to Western opera.