(Clearwisdom.net) Washingtonians enthusiastically welcomed Divine Performing Arts (DPA) Chinese New Year Spectacular as it swept the stage at the John F. Kennedy Center Opera House. The popularity of the show was demonstrated by the packed and sold-out performances, with one show having sold all 100 available standing-room-only tickets to those waiting in line to see the show. Some who didn't have a chance to buy tickets and even those who had come to the show more than once, said they hoped that Divine Performing Arts would soon return to Washington so they could be learn more about China's 5,000-year-old culture.
Among the audience members were Mr. And Mrs. Monahan, who traveled from New Jersey to Washington D.C. to see the show. Mrs. Monahan is an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. Accompanying her was Mr. Monahan, who works as a computer and software specialist. Mr. Monahan said that he was greatly impressed by DPA. "I liked the choreography, the color of the costumes. The way it looked, like they just floated across the stage! It was just amazing how they moved, all in unison, all together, and it really looks like they weren't dancing, they were just floating."
Mrs. and Mr. Monahan attended the show
Mrs. Monahan also expressed her appreciation for the show. "I thought it was spectacular! I have never seen anything like it. Every dance was so different. [It was] unique, very different. Beautiful! Colorful and energetic!" She went on to add that seeing DPA helped her to better understand her students. "It opened up my eyes. It gave me a different perspective on some of my [Chinese] students, and I can teach my other students who are not from China to respect other cultures. And I learned a little bit about the Chinese culture. I don't know that much about Chinese culture, but my attention was brought to Falun Dafa, and I have never heard of that, so I thought that was so interesting, that [seeing DPA] can teach you something."
DPA features moving digital backdrops, and as someone who works with computers, Mr. Monahan's attention was drawn to the technical aspects of the show. "The backdrops were very interesting, with the animation, and how the animation came to life - -It was just really neat, the way they did all that stuff," Mr. Monahan said. His wife joined in, "I was thinking too, about the technology, how they brought the past, the very, very distant past, and the future together. It was just amazing! It connected. Also, I do like the way the dancers really portrayed the parts. You could almost what they were dancing."
Referring to the performance, Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution, that tells the story of a father tragically killed for practicing Falun Dafa in China, Mrs. Monahan said, "The one about the man who was practicing Falun Dafa, I had tears in my eyes, because I could feel myself being there, so they made you feel part of it."
However, Mr. Monahan said that his interest in the show went well beyond the technical aspects. "Great choreography, great costumes, very colorful, very informative! It brought back different aspects of ancient China and what they are trying to portray and sort of how the last fifty years they tried to suppress all the great thinkers and the great minds of China with trying to influence how they want to do things today."
Retired former telephone company employee Ms. Calcy
Retired former telephone company employee Ms. Calcy and her niece, Security Analyst, Ms. Bryant, were among the fortunate who bought a ticket to the show. "I absolutely loved it, it was so realistic, I cried a little bit on some of the scenes. It was just so beautiful and inspirational at the same time," Ms. Calcy said. Ms. Bryant echoed her feeling. "I loved it! I thought the colors were wonderful-the women and the men, the way they choreographed with one another. It was very vibrant and fulfilling. It like awakens you! It was a really great show. It was very beautiful!"
Ms. Calcy's favorite piece was Heaven Awaits Us Despite Persecution, "The scene with the family, with the little girl. She just touched my heart so much."
Computer Scientists Admire Grace, Color
Mr. And Mrs. McDonough attended the show on Sunday. Mrs. McDonough is a computer scientist and published author on the subject, and Mr. McDonough, a retired civil servant in the e-government field, now works as an advisor and author.
"Wow! We are so excited!" Mr. McDonough exclaimed. "It's so elegant and so athletic! We appreciate the graceful moves, especially the Mystical Phoenix. I loved the three-thousand-year-old flower as it opened up," he said, referring to The Udumbara's Bloom. "The beginning and the closing of that scene was just wonderful!" This performance retells the legend of the rare Udumbara flower, whose blossoming foretells the appearance of a great sage or enlightened being.
Mrs. McDonough was impressed with the performances overall, "The conciseness; everyone is together and they form a beautiful scene at the end! They really pulled it together wonderfully! I enjoyed it." Both said they would definitely be back next year.
Biotech Company Employee: "It was Excellent--the Spirit, Just the Passion"
Mr. Thomas
Mr. Thomas, from Atlanta Georgia, works for a biotech company. He said, "It was excellent--the spirit, just the passion. Everything was just amazing!"
He had a hard time choosing his favorite piece and finally said, "I think the Mongolian Chopsticks, just with the rhythms, with the beats. The dancing was good. The choreography and everything was very lovely!"
Many audience members returned to see the show a second time, after seeing it earlier in the week. Kim, a sales manager, said that she had "Never seen a show like this one. For me, it was a classical approach."
Restaurant manager, Antonio, joined her to see Saturday's performance. He said that he found DPA to be very educational, "I enjoyed it! It's about feeling, and the emotion that you usually don't get." He shared that he appreciated all the work that went into the show.
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Category: Shen Yun Performing Arts
