(Clearwisdom.net) On The afternoon of February 11, 2009, Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company staged its first show in the Hitomi Memorial Auditorium of Tokyo Showa Women's University, Tokyo. The auditorium was full. This is the third year for DPA to perform in Japan.
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Japanese Member of Parliament: Astonishing art performance
Member of Parliament Jin Matsubara watched the first show in Tokyo and was astonished by the performance. He said, "I can see that the backdrop uses high tech methods. The show is a very astonishing art event. Watching DPA show can bring you out of your busy daily life to an art world."
MP Matsubara was impressed with the programs and the costumes of the performers. He gave examples of The Monkey King Triumphs and Poet Li Bai and said he enjoyed reading the novel Journey to west when he was young. He said, "I like the poet Li Bai's poems and read them. I did not know about the poem after he was drunk. I learned a lot."
Tokyo City Council Member: It is precious that DPA is reviving traditional Chinese culture
Tokyo City Council Member Mr. Tsuchiya and another member of the City Council watched the DPA show together. Mr. Tsuchiya said, "Japanese culture and Chinese culture have similarities. Actually, we admit that Chinese traditional culture is the elder brother of Japanese culture. It is regretful that such culture does not exist in current China. In places without freedom of thought and expression, culture is just a superficial form with no inner connotation."
He said, "The DPA show redefines the inner meaning of Chinese culture. It is precious and valuable."
Another City Council member watched the show for the third year in a row. He and his wife saw the show on February 11. He said, "Today I am moved again to see the show."
He said, "The current financial crisis is actually a spiritual crisis. After seeing the show, people should ponder what is the real crisis? Today's show leads people to think about why they are here. What is one's mission and what role one should play? It is a show to consider! The economic crisis is severe. But the show leads us to see that the bigger crisis is spiritual crisis."
Former First Lady of Indonesia: DPA Dancers Are Like 'dancing butterflies'
On February 11, the former First Lady of Indonesia, Dewi Soekarno, enjoyed the DPA show at Hitomi Memorial Auditorium in Tokyo.
Ms. Soekarno is a prominent figure in the Japanese film industry and the third of nine wives of the first president of Indonesia, Soekarno (1901-1970). In the late 1950's Ms. Soekarno met the 57-year-old Sukarno when she was 19, when the ex-president was on a state visit to Japan.
Former First Lady of Indonesia, Dewi Soekarno, enjoyed the DPA show
After seeing the DPA performance, Ms. Soekarno said, "It was really elegant, graceful. The movements were very difficult yet harmonious. The male dancers displayed very high-level technique. The backdrops were also high tech; it was very fantastic," she said.
"I was also stunned by the second dance's costumes; the color was white and the waist bands were pink. It really looked like a white water lily. I could just imagine the white flower while watching the dance. It was really beautiful."
Ms. Soekarno was referring to The Udumbara's Bloom, a dance based on the legendary Udumbara flower, a flower that only blooms every three thousand years. It is believed in Buddhism that every time it blossoms, it marks the arrival of a great sage or enlightened being.
"The costumes are made with lots of ideas and with rich and beautiful Chinese silk. When the dancers wave their sleeves, the way it flutters shows that [the costume] really used good and authentic silk, very beautiful and noble costumes."
She also was very impressed with the costumes in The Mystical Phoenix.
"I talked about the white water lily flower-like costumes. Beside that, I also liked another dance, where the costumes had flitting sleeves, just like dancing butterflies, really, really wonderful.
"Those dancers have long legs and delicate faces, they moved together harmoniously. It was extremely beautiful. Also, the shoulder movements and the way they walk--their steps did not make any sound--very soft and smooth. These things are rarely seen in Japan and it's evident that this is the real Chinese culture."
Ms. Soekarno now resides in Tokyo, yet she has lived in many other countries around the world upon her husband's death, including France, Switzerland, and United States. She now has her own jewelry and cosmetic businesses and once in a while appears on various TV shows. She also has served as judge for beauty contests, including the 2005 Miss International Pageant held in Tokyo.
She felt that the night was unique and wanted to say a few words to the people of this culture: "You should be very proud of being Chinese as you have a wonderful culture. You can even keep your pride while living overseas, because your country has the finest culture in the world."
Okinawa Ambassador Sees Show Twice in One Day
Michiko Nakada, the Okinawa Ambassador of Tourism, a dancer and singer, watched DPA show twice on Feb. 11 at Hitomi Memorial Auditorium in Tokyo, a popular public destination for the Japanese imperial family.
Michiko Nakada, Okinawa Ambassador of Tourism, and a dancer and singer
"My tears were pouring out throughout the whole matinee. Since I missed the opening piece, I bought tickets to the evening show as well. It would be such a pity to miss one number in such a perfect performance. I'm glad that I didn't miss this opportunity," said Ms. Nakada at the evening show.
The opening program that Ms. Nakada was thrilled about is called The Five Millennia Begin. It tells a story of divine beings meeting in heaven and descending to Earth. They bring the gift of culture and launch 5,000 years of Chinese history.
"The overall coordination is very intricate--the backdrops displayed the numerous deities descending to the mundane world--the backdrops and the dancers formed one body. I have never seen such a scene."
Ms. Nakada said that the performance made her feel refreshed and revitalized. "I think ancient people and gods co-existed. People did not commit bad deeds because if they did that, the sky would darken. The performance depicted this kind of world."
As a professional folk dancer, Ms. Nakada was enthralled by the Chinese classical dance in the show, a dance system passed down along with the history of China.
"The performance moved me to tears. The Chinese civilization is the oldest of all. I've always wanted to see the miraculous ... dance of ancient China. I've always hoped to see the non-Westernized Chinese culture."
Although she often goes to shows, she said this is one of a kind. "The songs have many messages from above. They tell people not to commit wrongdoings. This kind of message should be given to mankind often. Being upright and virtuous is the most beautiful way of living for human beings."
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