(Clearwisdom.net) In 2007, Divine Performing Arts (DPA) staged 82 shows of the Chinese Spectacular in 32 cities worldwide. Two hundred thousand people enjoyed the DPA performances. In 2008, two separate DPA companies staged 210 shows in 66 cities throughout the world, with an audience of six hundred thousand people.
Enthusiastic audience takes in a DPA performance
Chinese Spectacular in Canberra, Australia, 2008
This year, three Divine Performing Arts companies will hold three shows in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale, Florida on December 19, which will begin this season's DPA world tour.
In March and April, 2008, DPA gave 22 performances in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide and Auckland. Forty thousand people from Australia and New Zealand enjoyed a wonderful evening of traditional Chinese culture.
Australian Congressman Gary Humphries
After seeing the Chinese Spectacular in March 2008, Gary Humphries, an Australian Congressman, stated that it was an excellent show, which beautifully demonstrated traditional Chinese culture. He added that it was a precious experience for Westerners. Mr. Humphries was glad that Divine Performing Arts is trying to maintain and promote the traditional Chinese culture.
Joanne, a professional dance coach, and her friends watched the Spectacular on the evening of March 29, 2008. During the intermission she said to the reporter, "It's a wonderful performance, with wonderful backdrops. The costumes are also wonderful. I have never seen a performance like this, it's so terrific!" Joanne continued, "The props for the fan dance, 'Nymphs of the Sea' looked like water and the silk fans especially looked great."
Professional dance coach Joanne and her friends watched the DPA performance on the evening of March 29
Mr. Bill Stefaniak MLA, an Australian Liberal Party politician, attended the Chinese Spectacular with his daughter
Mr. Bill Stefaniak MLA, an Australian Liberal Party politician, attended the Chinese Spectacular with his daughter in Canberra on April 11. Mr. Stefaniak was impressed by the backdrops. He said, "I really liked the use of the visuals and also the way the screen was used, technically, behind the actual dancers. I think that was quite spectacular. For example, the birds that go up to become the sun, and then got shot down by the hero with his arrows, ["Lady of the Moon"] - very, very spectacular.
"I think the main highlight is that China has 5,000 years of culture that can never be crushed, no matter how misguided people in the past might have tried. And a culture like China is a culture which should be universal and shared with the world. There are universal values such as truth, which should be shared with the world, which we all share, and we all should abide by, no matter what our race, color or creed."
On March 29, 2008 Chinese immigrant Wu Jiaju and his wife saw the third performance of Divine Performing Arts in Melbourne, Australia. He said, "The Chinese Spectacular reveals the true, traditional Chinese culture passed down by divine beings and we should promote it widely."
He thought that using classic Chinese dances and folk dances to present Chinese history was very effective. "Divine Performing Arts should have performances all over the world and more people, especially Chinese, should see it, which will be good for them." He believes that performances like this are the only hope for the Chinese to revisit the benefits of its most prosperous period--the Tang Dynasty.
"The culture of atheism promoted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has severed people's historical memory and poisoned several generations in China." Wu Jiaju, who came to Australia five years ago, said, "Culture should educate people and teach them how to behave like human beings. Only a performance like this can encourage the Chinese who have been brainwashed by the CCP to return to correct behavior."
Judy Turner, deputy leader of the United Future Party and Member of Parliament, attended the Spectacular with her husband, Graham on April 18, 2008 in Auckland, New Zealand. Ms. Turner said, "This was undoubtedly a wonder, because it is indeed spectacular! I was moved by the culture. Although I've never been to China, the colors and the performers' talent--it was staggering how gifted they were. And the lyrics projected on the backdrop made it easy for people to understand the context. It was bliss two times over."
Judy Turner, deputy leader of the United Future Party, and husband, Graham Turner
Ms. Turner continued, "I actually realized by watching this show that there are many similarities between Chinese dance and Western ballet, such as the technical nuances. The stories in the Spectacular were delightfully accessible, the plot was well thought out, and it was enormously ingenuous!" She added that the dances were "undeniably outstanding."
Besides commenting on the show's artistry, Ms. Turner offered a unique perspective, "The Spectacular conveyed an important message that the essence of an individual is deeply rooted in his culture, and people intuitively try their hardest to bring back their culture if it is denied by a political regime. The historic explorations in the Spectacular impressed me tremendously. New Zealand's culture goes back a few centuries, while the Spectacular embarked on a journey that revisited the last several thousand years. It was incredibly exciting to see that someone actually traced the footprint of history and excavated the treasure previously buried underneath a desert."
Mr. George Guo, an Asian Department specialist at the National Bank, attended the Spectacular on April 17, 2008 in Auckland, New Zealand with his wife. He said, "The show perfectly demonstrated Chinese culture. It was splendid. Every performance was excellent, especially the ones describing the Tang Dynasty culture. Chinese people are sometimes called Tang people. So, restoring the culture of the Tang Dynasty is to restore Chinese culture."
Ms. Tina Uta, president of a newspaper in Auckland, one of the sponsors of the Chinese Spectacular, watched the show on April 17 in Auckland with the wife of the print house owner. They said the show was miraculous and unique. Ms. Uta said she learned more about Chinese history and culture and was most fascinated by the dance, "Nymphs of the Sea."
Ms. Tina Uta and the wife of one of her colleagues
Mr. McNaughton, who plays the main character of Scotty (Scott) in the popular drama "Shortland Street," said the Spectacular was "excellent" and regretted not taking his son to see it. The show, he said, was very educational. "... the nature of the Chinese dance is so flowing and peaceful. That is the feeling that I get. Just the flowing and the movements, it is just so lovely," noted Mr. McNaughton.
Local artist Daniel Liu had high praise for the show in Auckland. To him, the combinations of the colors and the background scene designs were the most impressive. "They were unique and different from any other shows I have seen. The match between the color of the background and the performers' costumes was amazing," he said.
Mr. Daniel Liu, a local artist
Mr. Liu said the show exhibited the 5000-year-old Chinese history and culture. "It is a special show. It showed the history, myths, and legends."
"Most of the performers of this arts company grew up overseas, but they respect and try to promote Chinese culture. In the 21st century, it is very necessary to introduce Chinese culture to the world from a different angle," said Mr. Liu.
Mr. Jia Kuo, whose father, Jia Jia, publicly quit the Chinese Communist Party a few years and became a political refugee, attended the Spectacular. He found encouragement in the show. Mr. Jia said that the Chinese Communist Party has ruined traditional Chinese culture, but, "The Spectacular has the potential to restore traditional Chinese culture."
Mr. Jia Kuo
Mr. Jia added that the show is a perfect work of art and very appealing, and the performances were all world class. He said, "The stories depicted in the show were all from traditional Chinese culture. The show delivered [these stories] to the audience through the form of art."
Mr. Jia continued, "The Spectacular not only tries to restore traditional Chinese culture, but also tries to build a bridge between the East and West. It has become a window for people to learn about China. Many Westerners and overseas Chinese are interested in Chinese culture, but due to the Communist Party, many Chinese people in Mainland China know very little about it. So, it is our task to restore it." Mr. Jia thanked Divine Performing Arts for bringing such a great show to New Zealand.
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