January 14, 2004 Wednesday

GOLD Coast siblings Nissrine Smythe and David Thornton are preparing themselves for the biggest gig of their lives.

The two vocalists are members of the southeast Queensland quintet, Returning, that has been chosen to perform at New York's internationally renowned Hammerstein Ballroom, as part of the inaugural Chinese New Year Global Gala.

Five thousand people will attend the January 17 and 18 performances, and if that doesn't start the knees knocking, concert organisers, New Tang Dynasty Television, will beam a telecast into an expected 50 million households throughout Australia, North America, Europe and Asia.

NTDTV is the world's first independent, non-profit, free-to-air, global Chinese TV network.

Apart from their discernible talent, Returning was placed on the bill for the members' common belief in Falun Dafa, an apolitical and non-religious practice incorporating exercises and meditation.

People found observing its principles have allegedly been persecuted by the Chinese Government, who saw it as a threat because of its massive rise in popularity.

Falun Dafa is a cultivation of the mind and body, and through concentrating on truth, compassion and tolerance, you're able to deal better with the community, and it flows on from there," said Ms Smythe.

"It [was perceived as a threat by] the Communist Government because 100 million people were following it."

She and Mr Thornton have a Lebanese background, and also sing?in Arabic.

With Returning, they will perform two original compositions, Call To Heart and Historical Time. They leave for New York on Sunday.