Bowfire, a company of dancing virtuoso violinists and fiddlers, stages a fast-paced razzle-dazzle show Sunday and Monday. They play jazz, bluegrass, rock 'n' roll, classics and "Butterfly Lovers Concerto'' .

What happens when string jazz is mixed up with classical, bluegrass, Celtic, rock, gypsy, Texas swing and the "Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto?" The answer is Bowfire.

The virtuoso Bowfire violinists - 11 top names in their music genres - perform Sunday and Monday in their first show on the Chinese mainland, at the Shanghai Center. They are step dancers as well.

The fast-paced stage show, with dramatic lighting, costumes and razzle-dazzle, will also feature erhu virtuoso George Gao. The fiddler-violinists have backup by bass, guitar, cello, piano and drums.

Billed as a "total string experience," the all-star-show will present jazz, classical, bluegrass, Celtic, rock, gypsy, world, Texas swing and Ottawa Valley and Cape Breton styles. They will also play the Chinese composition "Galloping Horses."

Han Lu, from the sponsoring Hui Huang Entertainment, says the show is very popular internationally. "The hall is always full to the brim with cheering fans."

The performance combines a high-quality musical experience with a fun, theatrically staged production with impressive sound, choreography, dramatic lighting, set design and costumes.

Bowfire was assembled in 2000 under the guidance of Lenny Solomon, one of the leading jazz violinists today, and Broadway stage director Stafford Arima. Bowfire debuted at Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany. Audiences were enthusiastic about the musical and theatrical experience with modern fiddlers playing one hit after another.

According to Houston Chronicle, a newspaper in Houston, Texas, "Bowfire blurred individual traditions in the fast-paced onslaught of top-flight playing ... Everything was slick, well-produced and well-played. Nothing was overdone. There was enough razzle-dazzle and variety to keep the audience entertained."

Dates: September 30-October 1, 7:30pm

Venue: Shanghai Center, 1376 Nanjing Rd W.

Tickets: 100-500 yuan

Tel: 962-288
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(Shanghai Daily September 28, 2007)