(Clearwisdom.net) The Divine Performing Arts (DPA) Chinese New Year Spectacular, swept the stage at The John F. Kennedy Center this February, 11. At the VIP reception just after the show, Ms. Mastroianni, the vice president of human resources for an energy consulting company, exclaimed, "It was beautiful!" She had come to see the show with a friend. Ms. Mastroianni went on to elaborate, "I thought it was beautiful, very well-done, the choreography was amazing, and I think the message of the performance about the traditions of Chinese culture was really impressive."

"I think the choreography was spectacular. The unity of how the dancers danced together and the overall spirit, it was very peaceful, a lot of harmony. It wasn't loud it was just very...I don't know how to explain it, it was very flowing, relaxing," Ms. Mastroianni said, commenting on Divine Performing Arts' use of the unique art form that is Chinese classical dance, which incorporates a vast array of movements, both gentle and strong.

Ms. Mastroianni said that both the costumes and the backdrops especially impressed her. "I thought the costumes were spectacular, and I also liked the backdrops, that was very interesting...when the dancers would rise up from the back and you would see them it was really an interesting combination. I really enjoyed it," she said.

The costumes used in the performance bring a colorful flair to an already decorative performance. According to the DPA website, "each costume is carefully designed and tailored with meticulous care. Apparel has always been an essential part of China's five-millennia-old, divinely-bestowed culture, and Divine Performing Arts brings this heritage to life on stage."

DPA brings together the talents of world-class performers and award-winning dancers and singers. The dance company has set out to restore the lost ancient elements of traditional Chinese arts and culture, much of which has been lost under the current communist regime in China.

"It wasn't a typical dance performance. It was very unique and I would definitely recommend it!" Ms. Mastroianni said.

Mr. Rostron, a Washington D.C. finance executive and chairman of a non-profit organization that assists military families, was positively enthused about seeing this performance that revives the ancient culture and traditions of China's 5,000-year-old civilization, brought to Washington D.C. "I think just the overall culmination of the history, and the thoughts that have come through all that dance, were all fantastic."

Mr. Rostron, a Washington D.C. finance executive and chairman of a non-profit organization that assists military families

Reflecting on the overall performance, and what it gave the audience, he thoughtfully added, "The eloquence, actually, of the traditional dancers, and the messages that came through, but I was most of all [awed by the message] about the human spirit, I think that was the most beautiful!"

While finding it difficult to choose a preference, Mr. Rostron said that some scenes touched him more than others. Referring to "Flowing Sleeves", he said, "The sleeves, actually, there were many in there, but I think they all impressed me, to make up an entire thought from the performance." In the performance, "Flowing Sleeves", the dancers fluidly and gracefully move draped in long, flowing sleeves, displaying the feminine grace reminiscent of the ladies of the imperial Tang court. "I think they were all amazing, and they all added a message, and not just the art. I think bringing those together and [making it] an entire story is what really made it the best!"

One congressional assistant who attended DPA's public opening night on Wednesday said that he was at a loss for words. "I thought it was pretty amazing! I never experienced anything like this before, and I'm at a loss for words!" exclaimed Mr. Johnson after the show.

"The show itself, is really beyond words, I mean, I don't know how to explain it. I've never seen anything like it before! It's a blend of East and West. It's really is hard to put in words."

Mr. Johnson said that he really enjoyed the music, and that he was most taken by the Erhu, a two-stringed Chinese violin. During the performance, erhu artist Xiachun Qi, played the moving number entitled "Hope." Audiences frequently express surprise at the powerful emotion and expressiveness conveyed by this classical Chinese instrument. "It's amazing!" said Mr. Johnson. "Having two strings that can make all these sounds, and just make it sound so beautiful."

Source: http://theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/11866/

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