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PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Councilman Leon Tejada and his daughter were very impressed with the Shen Yun Divine Performing Arts (DPA) performance when it came to their city and performed at the Providence Performing Arts Center on Thursday, March 5.
The Shen Yun DPA 2009 World Tour will encompass 80 cities on four continents, promoting authentic Chinese culture, ancient myths, legends, and principles. Since 2006, the New York-based performing arts company has been bringing about a renaissance of China’s five-millennia-old traditional culture. Those who have seen this world-class show are struck by the unique charm of Chinese classical dance, a defining part of DPA’s production.
Mr. Tejada said, “[I am] totally impressed about the show. It touched my heart, touched my sentiment, it’s a really beautiful show, and I congratulate the company for the great, great performance. … The whole show from the beginning to the end impressed me."
Mr. Tejada was born in the Dominican Republic, but moved to Rhode Island with his family over 20 years ago.
He had this to say to the Shen Yun DPA: "I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for bringing that kind of show to the city of Providence, and I’d like to send a message to the people who missed it, that the next time the show comes here to Providence, not to miss it, because it’s just wonderful.
“I will bring my whole family, my friends my co-workers, everybody, it’s a wonderful show. Especially now, the kind of world that we live in, there are so many problems in the world now. This show brings you a little more peace, a little bit more comfort to your soul. It’s unbelievable.
“Now I can see the beauty of the human being. … I can see it clearly now, the beauty of the human being. The interaction with the human being, with the heavenly figures through the show, it’s unbelievable.”
He felt that the show provided a "light at the end of the tunnel. Not only [does this performance] show the value of the Chinese culture, but [also] the value of the words hope … beauty, and … compassion.
“Don’t ever lose your hope. There is always something. You go through the tunnel, it may be dark, but there is always a light outside of the tunnel. The beauty of the human beings, the color, the beauty, the culture is unbelievable. The show has touched me in that way.”
Mr. Tejada also commented on the traditional Chinese dancing. “It’s so perfectly synchronized. … The dancers are so beautiful, the way they perform is so perfect.”
Mr. Tejada was almost moved to tears by the music played by the orchestra, which combines both traditional Western instruments and Chinese instruments. “I almost cried. It’s unbelievable. In one word I would say it is perfection. The music is the language of the world. So many languages that people speak, millions of people out there, thousands of languages, and music is the language that brings us together. It is the language of the human being.”
Mr. Tejada's daughter was also deeply touched by the performance. She said that she often frequents the theater and had never seen anything of this caliber. “I was totally blown away. I’d never seen anything like that, and I love plays, I watch plays all the time, musicals, everything, I’ve never seen anything like that. … Like my dad said, perfection.”
Her favorite dance was Welcoming Spring, in which the warmth of spring is a welcome blessing after winter's cold in this festive, floral scene. Quick footwork, crisp movements, and stunning bursts of color which form the basis of these women’s fan dance and its sense of sheer delight. Its exuberant spirit and marking of the season personify China’s folk dance tradition.
“I like the way they interpreted the dance, everything, the way they presented themselves. They didn’t even have to say anything, and you already understand how they feel.”
When asked how he would rate the show from 1 to 10, Mr. Tejada replied, “I will give it a 15. Just wonderful.”
NTDTV, a media partner of The Epoch Times, contributed to this article.
For more information, please see DivinePerformingArts.org
